Kinder , Gentler and harmless Alternative of DBS

[Farooqji]

Seeking a kinder, gentler alternative, researchers from Korea's Yonsei University created minuscule magnets tagged with antibodies. The devices are known as nanoscale magnetic force actuators, or m-Torquers.

These m-Torquers were injected into the subthalamic nucleus of mice with early- and late-stage Parkinson's disease. Due to the fact that the antibodies were selected because they stick to the surface of STN cells specifically, the m-Torquers only adhered to those cells, leaving all others alone.

Additionally, some of the STN cells had previously been genetically engineered to activate when twisted. This twisting effect was achieved by exposing the subthalamic nucleus to a weak externally applied rotating magnetic field. Doing so caused all of the m-Torquers to swivel back and forth, twisting their respective STN cells in the process.

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