A nanoparticle-based wireless deep brain ... - Cure Parkinson's
A nanoparticle-based wireless deep brain stimulation system that reverses Parkinson’s disease. (Above my paygrade, but interesting.)
This part sounds good: "Here, we describe a photothermal wireless deep brain stimulation nanosystem capable of eliminating α-synuclein aggregates and restoring degenerated dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra to treat Parkinson’s disease."
Indeed, it does.
A wireless DBS? Yes, I’m interested.
I am interested
There’s a lot of wow in this research. Great find and thanks for sharing 😃👍
“Meanwhile, the β-syn peptides released from ATB NPs inhibited the formation and promoted the disaggregation of α-syn fibrils. These dynamic processes, coupled with the initiation of chaperone-mediated autophagy, effectively reversed α-syn aggregation in the DA neurons and restored DA levels in the striatum through the nigrostriatal pathway. Ultimately, ATB NP–mediated therapy led to the recovery of locomotor behaviors in PD model mice. The efficacy of this therapy was evident in both PFF- and MPTP-induced PD mice, suggesting its universal applicability.”
“demonstrate excellent biocompatibility to the neurons, SN, whole brain, and living organisms, eliciting no apparent toxicity. Overall, this proof-of-concept study provides valuable insights for future investigations aiming to expand the field of DBS without the need for additional implantation of conduits or genetic manipulation.”
“All animal and in vitro experiments were repeated at least three times unless stated otherwise.”
Here is another easier to read article about this novel process from Physics World
EMERGING THERAPIES RESEARCH UPDATE
Wireless deep brain stimulation reverses Parkinson’s disease in mice
19 Feb 2025
Nanoparticle-mediated DBS reverses the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease
Nanoparticle-mediated DBS (I) Pulsed NIR irradiation triggers the thermal activation of TRPV1 channels. (II, III) NIR-induced β-syn peptide release into neurons disaggregates α-syn fibrils and thermally activates autophagy to clear the fibrils. This therapy effectively reverses the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Created using BioRender.com. (Courtesy: CC BY-NC/Science Advances 10.1126/sciadv.ado4927)
A photothermal, nanoparticle-based deep brain stimulation (DBS) system has successfully reversed the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease in laboratory mice. Under development by researchers in Beijing, China, the injectable, wireless DBS not only reversed neuron degeneration, but also boosted dopamine levels by clearing out the buildup of harmful fibrils around dopamine neurons. Following DBS treatment, diseased mice exhibited near comparable locomotive behaviour to that of healthy control mice.
Parkinson’s disease is a chronic brain disorder characterized by the degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons and the subsequent loss of dopamine in regions of the brain. Current DBS treatments focus on amplifying dopamine signalling and production, and may require permanent implantation of electrodes in the brain. Another approach under investigation is optogenetics, which involves gene modification. Both techniques increase dopamine levels and reduce Parkinsonian motor symptoms, but they do not restore degenerated neurons to stop disease progression.
Chunying Chen
Team leader Chunying Chen from the National Center for Nanoscience and Technology. (Courtesy: Chunying Chen)
The research team, at the National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, hypothesized that the heat-sensitive receptor TRPV1, which is highly expressed in dopamine neurons, could serve as a modulatory target to activate dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra of the midbrain. This region contains a large concentration of dopamine neurons and plays a crucial role in how the brain controls bodily movement.
Previous studies have shown that neuron degeneration is mainly driven by α-synuclein (α-syn) fibrils aggregating in the substantia nigra. Successful treatment, therefore, relies on removing this build up, which requires restarting of the intracellular autophagic process (in which a cell breaks down and removes unnecessary or dysfunctional components).
As such, principal investigator Chunying Chen and colleagues aimed to develop a therapeutic system that could reduce α-syn accumulation by simultaneously disaggregating α-syn fibrils and initiating the autophagic process. Their three-component DBS nanosystem, named ATB (Au@TRPV1@β-syn), combines photothermal gold nanoparticles, dopamine neuron-activating TRPV1 antibodies, and β-synuclein (β-syn) peptides that break down α-syn fibrils.
The ATB nanoparticles anchor to dopamine neurons through the TRPV1 receptor then, acting as nanoantennae, convert pulsed near-infrared (NIR) irradiation into heat. This activates the heat-sensitive TRPV1 receptor and restores degenerated dopamine neurons. At the same time, the nanoparticles release β-syn peptides that clear out α-syn fibril buildup and stimulate intracellular autophagy.
The researchers first tested the system in vitro in cellular models of Parkinson’s disease. They verified that under NIR laser irradiation, ATB nanoparticles activate neurons through photothermal stimulation by acting on the TRPV1 receptor, and that the nanoparticles successfully counteracted the α-syn preformed fibril (PFF)-induced death of dopamine neurons. In cell viability assays, neuron death was reduced from 68% to zero following ATB nanoparticle treatment.
Next, Chen and colleagues investigated mice with PFF-induced Parkinson’s disease. The DBS treatment begins with stereotactic injection of the ATB nanoparticles directly into the substantia nigra. They selected this approach over systemic administration because it provides precise targeting, avoids the blood–brain barrier and achieves a high local nanoparticle concentration with a low dose – potentially boosting treatment effectiveness.
Following injection of either nanoparticles or saline, the mice underwent pulsed NIR irradiation once a week for five weeks. The team then performed a series of tests to assess the animals’ motor abilities (after a week of training), comparing the performance of treated and untreated PFF mice, as well as healthy control mice. This included the rotarod test, which measures the time until the animal falls from a rotating rod that accelerates from 5 to 50 rpm over 5 min, and the pole test, which records the time for mice to crawl down a 75 cm-long pole.
Results of motor tests in mice
Motor tests Results of (left to right) rotarod, pole and open field tests, for control mice, mice with PFF-induced Parkinson’s disease, and PFF mice treated with ATB nanoparticles and NIR laser irradiation. (Courtesy: CC BY-NC/Science Advances 10.1126/sciadv.ado4927)
The team also performed an open field test to evaluate locomotive activity and exploratory behaviour. Here, mice are free to move around a 50 x 50 cm area, while their movement paths and the number of times they cross a central square are recorded. In all tests, mice treated with nanoparticles and irradiation significantly outperformed untreated controls, with near comparable performance to that of healthy mice.
Visualizing the dopamine neurons via immunohistochemistry revealed a reduction in neurons in PFF-treated mice compared with controls. This loss was reversed following nanoparticle treatment. Safety assessments determined that the treatment did not cause biochemical toxicity and that the heat generated by the NIR-irradiated ATB nanoparticles did not cause any considerable damage to the dopamine neurons.
READ MOREIn vivo studies
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Eight weeks after treatment, none of the mice experienced any toxicities. The ATB nanoparticles remained stable in the substantia nigra, with only a few particles migrating to cerebrospinal fluid. The researchers also report that the particles did not migrate to the heart, liver, spleen, lung or kidney and were not found in blood, urine or faeces.
Chen tells Physics World that having discovered the neuroprotective properties of gold clusters in Parkinson’s disease models, the researchers are now investigating therapeutic strategies based on gold clusters. Their current research focuses on engineering multifunctional gold cluster nanocomposites capable of simultaneously targeting α-syn aggregation, mitigating oxidative stress and promoting dopamine neuron regeneration.
The study is reported in Science Advances.
Thank you redhawk1. It is more understandable.
Now if it makes it to market and in less than 10 years, you'll all have hope.
Please always remember that PD has been "cured" many times in rodent models of PD. I want to be excited by this study, but I am not. We must remember that the mouse brain is not the same as the human brain. Mice don't get PD naturally. Success with mice fail to translate in humans with PD. Mice don't even have my myelinated dopaminergic neurons.
True, true & true, but it gives more hope (to those who still have 10 to 15 years ahead of them) than anything else I've heard of.
I was busy digging into that salt article string and got a little tired of it so I will flag this one for a little later look.
Meanwhile, does anybody happen to have an account that gets you into an AI higher level than first-level analysis query, maybe you could ask it to take this article and translate it into simpler language and see what you get, just to see what it comes up with and then try to compare it for legitimacy...
this is what Grok 3 said using think mode:
Yes, here is my simplified summary of the article titled “A nanoparticle-based wireless deep brain stimulation system that reverses Parkinson’s disease”:
What’s This Article About?
This article introduces a new way to treat Parkinson’s disease, a brain disorder that causes shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with movement. Normally, a treatment called deep brain stimulation (DBS) is used, where doctors implant electrodes into the brain to send electrical signals that help control these symptoms. However, this requires invasive surgery, which can be risky and lead to side effects.
The new system uses tiny particles called nanoparticles that are injected into the brain instead of implanting electrodes. These nanoparticles can be turned on wirelessly using a magnetic field from outside the body. Once activated, they stimulate specific brain areas to reduce Parkinson’s symptoms, making the treatment less invasive than traditional DBS.
What Did the Researchers Discover?
The researchers tested this nanoparticle-based system on animals with Parkinson’s-like symptoms. They found that it could reduce problems like tremors and stiffness, much like traditional DBS. Even better, it showed fewer side effects compared to the usual method.
Why Is This Important?
This new approach could make DBS safer and easier for people with Parkinson’s. Since it doesn’t involve surgery to place electrodes in the brain, it lowers the risks and could improve patients’ quality of life. It’s a promising step toward better, less invasive treatments for Parkinson’s disease.
In Simple Terms:
• Parkinson’s disease: A condition that causes shaking and trouble moving.
• Current DBS: Uses surgery to put wires in the brain, which can be risky.
• New system: Injects tiny particles into the brain and controls them with a magnet.
• How it helps: Reduces symptoms without surgery.
• Why it matters: Safer, simpler, and could help more people feel better.
That’s the simplified version! Let me know if you’d like me to tweak it or add anything else.
I also had Grok 3 think mode simplify the article that Redhawk shared:
Here’s a summary of the article from Physics World titled “Wireless deep brain stimulation reverses Parkinson’s disease in mice,” published on February 19, 2025:
Summary of the Article
This article highlights a new treatment for Parkinson’s disease that uses tiny gold nanoparticles to wirelessly stimulate the brain and improve symptoms in mice. Parkinson’s is a brain disorder that causes movement problems like tremors, stiffness, and slowness. Traditionally, deep brain stimulation (DBS) is used to treat it by surgically implanting electrodes and wires to send electrical signals to the brain. However, this method can be risky and uncomfortable due to the invasive surgery and wired setup.
In this novel approach, researchers inject gold nanoparticles into a brain area called the substantia nigra, which helps control movement and is damaged in Parkinson’s. These nanoparticles are activated by a near-infrared (NIR) laser shone from outside the body. When the laser hits them, the nanoparticles heat up and trigger a protein on brain cells called the TRPV1 receptor. This activation causes the brain cells to fire, helping to restore normal function.
Additionally, the nanoparticles carry β-syn peptides, which break down harmful protein clumps (α-synuclein aggregates) that build up in Parkinson’s patients’ brains. This dual action—stimulating brain cells and clearing damaging proteins—makes the treatment especially promising.
Testing in Mice:
• Researchers tested this method on mice with induced Parkinson’s-like symptoms.
• After treatment with nanoparticles and laser activation, the mice showed significant improvements:
◦ They stayed balanced on a rotating rod longer.
◦ They climbed down a pole faster.
◦ They moved around more in an open space, almost like healthy mice.
• Brain analysis revealed fewer harmful protein clumps and higher levels of dopamine, a chemical that’s typically low in Parkinson’s.
Advantages and Challenges:
• This wireless method could be less invasive than traditional DBS, as it avoids implanting electrodes or wires—just an injection and external laser are needed.
• Challenges remain, such as ensuring the nanoparticles reach the right brain area and confirming the laser is safe and effective.
Overall, this research introduces a potential game-changer for Parkinson’s treatment, offering a less invasive and dual-purpose approach that both stimulates the brain and tackles the disease’s root causes. It may also hold promise for other brain disorders in the future.
This summary explains the key points of the novel process in a clear, concise way, focusing on how it works, its effects, and its potential impact.
Great, gold is for me, where do I sign up?
Thanks Marc 🙏. If these effects—specifically the α-synuclein clearance and neuronal restoration—were to work in humans, it could represent a disease-modifying therapy, something that influences the progression of the disease, in contrast to the current DBS which is purely symptomatic. However, it is a highly complex system with multiple componenten. The efficacy and safety of each component, as well as their interactions, will need to be thoroughly investigated, which will likely take decades and, therefore, consume my time...
Nonetheless, I find this very encouraging because it at least presents a strategy for achieving a cure for Parkinson's alongside the ongoing efforts to prevent PD-related damage altogether.
I agree. But, not in my lifetime. Boo-hoo
Phwoa not an easy read but a good 'un Marc
more than interesting..where do i sign up?
