title: Toward Epileptic Brain Region Detection Based on Magnetic Nanoparticle Patterning.
abstract: Resection of the epilepsy foci is the best treatment for more than 15% of epileptic patients or 50% of patients who are refractory to all forms of medical treatment. Accurate mapping of the locations of epileptic neuronal networks can result in the complete resection of epileptic foci. Even though currently electroencephalography is the best technique for mapping the epileptic focus, it cannot define the boundary of epilepsy that accurately. Herein we put forward a new accurate brain mapping technique using superparamagnetic nanoparticles (SPMNs). The main hypothesis in this new approach is the creation of super-paramagnetic aggregates in the epileptic foci due to high electrical and magnetic activities. These aggregates may improve tissue contrast of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that results in improving the resection of epileptic foci. In this paper, we present the mathematical models before discussing the simulation results. Furthermore, we mimic the aggregation of SPMNs in a weak magnetic field using a low-cost microfabricated device. Based on these results, the SPMNs may play a crucial role in diagnostic epilepsy and the subsequent treatment of this disease.
authors.affiliation: Departement of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran. maysam.pedram@gmail.com.|Departement of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, York University, Toronto, ON M3J1P3, Canada. maysam.pedram@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Maysam Z
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Pedram
authors.affiliation: Departement of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran. amshamloo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shamloo
authors.affiliation: Departement of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran. aalasti@sharif.edu.
authors.forename: Aria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alasty
authors.affiliation: Departement of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, York University, Toronto, ON M3J1P3, Canada. egz@cse.yorku.ca.
authors.forename: Ebrahim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ghafar-Zadeh
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D060526:Magnetic Fields; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D009716:Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted
chemical_list: D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles
keywords: brain magnetic field; epilepsy; magnetic nanoparticle