Summary: Researchers at DGIST have created a fully implantable, wireless neural interface that can deliver drugs directly to deep brain regions with precise, programmable control. The soft, flexible device combines a miniaturized peristaltic micro-pump and asymmetrically tapered microchannels to enable continuous infusion with minimal backflow, and a wireless control module for real‑time adjustment of dose and flow rate.
This platform is designed to bypass the blood–brain barrier and reduce systemic side effects by placing medication exactly where it is needed. Because the system is self-contained and made from soft materials compatible with brain tissue, it aims to overcome mobility and long‑term use limitations of conventional pump-and-tube approaches.
Key Facts:
- Blood–Brain Barrier Bypass: Direct intracerebral delivery reduces reliance on systemic administration and the associated peripheral side effects.
- Wireless Control: Remote, real‑time adjustment of infusion rate and dosage supports personalized therapy and responsive treatment strategies.
- Soft, Flexible Materials: Construction from compliant materials improves mechanical compatibility with brain tissue for safer, longer-term implantation.
Source: DGIST
Research team: The implantable system was developed by a team led by Professor Kyung‑In Jang in the Department of Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering at DGIST (Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology).
Treating neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy is often constrained by the blood–brain barrier (BBB), which blocks many therapeutics from reaching target regions and necessitates high systemic doses that increase the risk of adverse effects. Traditional infusion systems typically rely on external pumps and tubing, which limit patient mobility and are difficult to adapt for chronic, long‑term therapy.
To address these obstacles, the DGIST team designed a fully soft, implantable device that integrates a thermo‑pneumatic peristaltic micropump with asymmetrically tapered (nozzle–diffuser) microchannels. The pump mimics peristaltic motion to generate directed flow, while the tapered channel geometry minimizes reflux without requiring mechanical valves. A compact wireless control module enables clinicians or care systems to change infusion parameters on demand.
Benchtop validation used a brain phantom made of agarose gel to evaluate delivery performance. The experiments showed consistent forward infusion without observable backflow, and demonstrated that both infusion rate and total dose could be adjusted remotely through wireless commands. All components were fabricated from soft materials, and tests confirmed stable insertion and operation consistent with mechanical compatibility goals.
Because the system keeps the reservoir and pumping mechanism on‑board and eliminates external tubing, it has potential to improve patient comfort and mobility while maintaining precise local pharmacology. The researchers envision extending the platform by integrating electrodes and sensors that monitor neural activity in real time, allowing closed‑loop control that can trigger targeted drug release in response to detected signals or events.
Professor Kyung‑In Jang commented that the device enables precise wireless drug delivery to deep brain targets and that the next steps will focus on verifying long‑term stability and safety for clinical translation, as well as adapting the platform for a range of neurological conditions.
Funding: This work was supported by the Industrial Technology Alchemist Project of the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy and the Nano and Material Technology Development Project of the Ministry of Science and ICT.
The research findings were published in August in the journal npj Flexible Electronics.
About this neurotech and neuropharmacology research news
Author: Wankyu Lim
Source: DGIST
Contact: Wankyu Lim – DGIST
Image credit: Neuroscience News
Original Research (open access): “A soft neural interface with a tapered peristaltic micropump for wireless drug delivery” by Kyung‑In Jang et al., published in npj Flexible Electronics.
Abstract
A soft neural interface with a tapered peristaltic micropump for wireless drug delivery
Delivering drugs precisely within the brain remains a major challenge because the blood–brain barrier limits access and systemic dosing carries risks of toxicity. The presented platform is a fully soft neural interface that integrates a thermo‑pneumatic peristaltic micropump with asymmetrically tapered microchannels to enable targeted, on‑demand wireless drug delivery.
All structural and functional elements are fabricated from soft, compliant materials to match brain mechanics. Sequential actuation of microheaters generates directional airflow that drives fluid from an on‑board reservoir through nozzle–diffuser microchannels, which reduce backflow and permit continuous, controlled delivery without mechanical valves. Fluid dynamics simulations informed the microfluidic design, and benchtop testing in brain‑mimicking phantoms demonstrated consistent, programmable infusion. This platform advances capabilities for localized neuropharmacology and may support new therapeutic approaches for central nervous system disorders.