BRAINSTORM

BRAINSTORM: Wireless deep BRAIN STimulation thrOugh engineeRed Multifunctional nanomaterials, PI Glasgow (€3M), HORIZON-EIC-PATHFINDEROPEN (GA n.101099355), 2023-27.

Fig. X. BRAINSTORM vision: Multifunctional nano-invasive stimulation scheme with SMNs capable of thermal and mechanical stimulation. Surface engineering with advanced polymer coatings enable conversion to electrical actuation, endogenous ion channel targeting, delivery of viral vectors and MRI based detection. Stimulation of excitatory channels (TRPV4) activates neuronal activity, while stimulation of inhibitory channels (ANO1) silences targeted neurons.

KEY STAFF AND PROJECT TEAM

Research Associate Dr Lucía Nieto Sierra is also Project Manager for BRAINSTORM. Prof. Hadi Heidari is PI. Dr Tala Masalehdan is RA. Also working on it is PhD student Mohammad Nekoeian. Dr Changhao Ge, formerly of meLAB, was instrumental in the project’s initial work.

PROJECT SUMMARY AND OVERVIEW

Neurostimulation is a cornerstone in advancing both fundamental neuroscience and the treatment of neurological disorders. Among emerging modalities, magnetic neurostimulation offers unique advantages over traditional electrical approaches, particularly through its enhanced orientational selectivity and noninvasive deep brain stimulation (DBS) potential. Its ability to focus magnetic fields and penetrate deep brain structures enables precise circuit-specific targeting.

However, current technologies such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) face limitations in spatial resolution—typically around 0.5–1 line pairs per centimeter, rendering them inadequate for precise DBS applications, especially in the axial dimension.

BRAINSTORM introduces a paradigm-shifting solution: a nanoinvasive, wireless neuromodulation platform with high spatiotemporal resolution capable of selectively activating or inhibiting specific neural circuits on demand. At the heart of this innovation are Smart Magnetic Nanomaterials (SMNs), engineered to respond to external magnetic fields for targeted thermal, mechanical, and electrical stimulation of neuronal cells.

Through advanced surface functionalization with responsive polymer coatings, SMNs are endowed with multifunctionality: they can interface with endogenous ion channels, facilitate the delivery of viral vectors, and be visualized via MRI. Activation of excitatory channels promotes neuronal firing, while targeting inhibitory channels enables circuit silencing. BRAINSTORM ultimately aims to deliver a clinically scalable, implant-free neuromodulation system, poised to overcome longstanding barriers in treating complex brain diseases.

BRAINSTORM Technology

Positioned at the intersection of neuroscience and neural engineering, BRAINSTORM represents a transformative platform for tackling currently incurable neurodegenerative conditions. Its core lies in the development of coil systems (e.g., planar spirals, slinky coils, and Helmholtz-like designs) that precisely activate functionalized SMNs.

These next-generation nanomagnetic actuators, in forms such as magnetite nanodiscs, nanotubes, and nanorings, retain nanoinvasiveness while achieving biocompatibility and fine-grained spatiotemporal control. Upon magnetic stimulation, they transduce physical energy into localized thermal and mechanical effects, enabling selective modulation of neural activity (Fig. 1).

SMNs are further enhanced with polymer coatings that enable conversion of physical stimuli into electrical cues, targeting specific ion channels or delivering therapeutic cargo. This multimodal stimulation capability, thermal, mechanical, and electrical, offers unprecedented precision in activating or inhibiting neuronal circuits.

The initial experimental platform centers on planar micro-coils engineered to produce localized magnetic fields. These fields activate SMNs situated in neural tissue, enabling non-contact stimulation. Additional configurations, such as slinky-shaped coils with variable turns and embedded magnetic cores, enhance magnetic field permeability. Helmholtz coil designs, tailored in geometry and turn count, provide uniform fields for broader applications.

Altogether, BRAINSTORM’s approach defines a new scientific frontier: a noninvasive, remotely controlled, multimodal neuromodulation technology capable of treating neurological diseases with unmatched precision and scalability.

BRAINSTORM

KEY STAFF AND PROJECT TEAM

PROJECT SUMMARY AND OVERVIEW

BRAINSTORM Technology

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Publications

Press

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