Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have unveiled implantable, flexible fibers designed to use light to investigate and potentially mitigate peripheral nerve pain. This ground-breaking instrument broadens the scope of optogenetics beyond cerebral applications, showing promising results in animal experiments.
These fibers could serve as a valuable asset in the development of treatments targeting pain stemming from nerve-related issues.
A New Instrument for Investigating Nerve Pain
MIT engineers have created flexible, implantable fibers capable of channeling light to significant nerves throughout the body. When these nerves are genetically engineered to be light-sensitive, the fibers can direct light pulses towards them to suppress pain. These optical fibers are designed to be flexible, adapting to the body’s movements.
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Investigating Peripheral Nerve Ailments
The newly-developed fibers are intended for use as an experimental resource for scientists investigating the origins and possible remedies for peripheral nerve disorders using animal models. Disorders of peripheral nerves, those lying outside the brain and spinal cord, can manifest as tingling, numbness, and pain in the affected extremities. It is estimated that peripheral neuropathy affects over 20 million individuals in the United States alone.
Siyuan Rao, assistant professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, states that existing devices for studying nerve disorders are made from rigid materials that inhibit movement. The new fibers, in contrast, adapt to natural bodily motions, offering more accurate data without restricting movement.
Extending Optogenetic Applications
This new research evolved from the aspiration to extend optogenetic applications beyond just the brain. Optogenetics involves the genetic manipulation of nerves to make them responsive to light, allowing either the activation or inhibition of the nerve, thereby offering insights into its function and interaction with its environment.
Optogenetics has primarily been applied within the brain to explore a variety of neurological conditions including Parkinson’s disease, addiction, and mood and sleep disorders. Yet the principal obstacle to applying optogenetics to peripheral nerves has been the issue of motion. Peripheral nerves are subjected to constant movement due to surrounding muscles and tissues, making the use of rigid devices impractical.
A Biocompatible Solution
In search of an alternative, researchers designed the new fibers from a soft, biocompatible hydrogel mixture, which is flexible and transparent. The hydrogel contains nanoscale polymer crystals embedded in a gel-like substance, providing the required mechanical characteristics for implantation.
These fibers have proven to be both durable and effective in mice experiments. The mice, whose nerves were engineered to be light-sensitive, were able to move freely even with the fibers implanted. Furthermore, when stimulated with light, the fibers were successful in significantly reducing sciatic pain in these animals.
The research team views these fibers as a pioneering tool that could greatly assist in uncovering the mechanisms behind pain and other peripheral nerve conditions. They anticipate that this technology may eventually contribute to the discovery of new therapeutic approaches for chronic pain and other conditions such as nerve degeneration or injury.
Citation and Funding
The research findings were published on October 19 in the journal Nature Methods and were funded, in part, by multiple organizations including the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Army Research Office.
DOI: 10.1038/s41592-023-02020-9
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Peripheral Nerve Pain Treatment
What are the MIT flexible fibers designed for?
These flexible fibers from MIT are designed for investigating and potentially treating peripheral nerve pain using light-based techniques.
How do these fibers work to address nerve pain?
The fibers are implantable and can deliver light to major nerves in the body. When these nerves are genetically engineered to respond to light, the fibers can send pulses of light to inhibit pain.
What is the significance of these fibers for studying nerve disorders?
These fibers serve as an experimental tool for scientists to explore the causes and potential treatments for peripheral nerve disorders in animal models. They offer the advantage of adapting to natural body movement.
Why has optogenetics primarily been applied in the brain?
Optogenetics has mainly been used in the brain because it lacks pain receptors, making implantation of rigid devices less painful. However, these rigid devices can still damage neural tissues.
How do the MIT fibers overcome the challenge of motion in peripheral nerves?
The fibers are made from a soft, stretchable, and transparent hydrogel. This biocompatible material allows them to move with the body, accommodating the constant motion of peripheral nerves.
What were the results of the experiments with these fibers in mice?
In mouse experiments, these fibers were successful in significantly reducing sciatic pain when stimulated with light. The mice were able to move freely with the fibers implanted.
What potential applications do the researchers see for these fibers?
Researchers view these fibers as a new tool to investigate the mechanisms underlying pain and other peripheral nerve disorders. They hope the technology will lead to novel therapies for conditions like chronic pain and nerve degeneration.
Who supported the research behind these fibers?
The research was supported by various organizations, including the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Army Research Office.
More about Peripheral Nerve Pain Treatment
- MIT News: Flexible optical fibers deliver light to target peripheral nerve pain
- Nature Methods: “Fatigue-resistant hydrogel optical fibers enable peripheral nerve optogenetics during locomotion”
2 comments
woah, MIT’s got sum cool stuff! fibers + lite 4 nerve pain. gr8 4 science!
optogenetics in nerves, awesome, but why not b4? rigid devices bad!