Tiny magnetic discs offer remote brain stimulation without transgenes.

Researchers at MIT have developed tiny magnetic nanodiscs, about 250 nanometers across, that can be injected into the brain and activated remotely using a magnetic field. These nanodiscs could offer a less invasive alternative to deep brain stimulation procedures that require implants or genetic modifications. The nanodiscs have shown promise in stimulating specific brain regions in mice without the need for genetic modification, potentially opening up new avenues for biomedical research and clinical applications. The development of these nanoparticles, described in the journal Nature Nanotechnology, represents a significant advancement in the field of brain stimulation technology. [Extracted from the article]