Publication detail

Wireless optoelectronic devices for vagus nerve stimulation in mice

DONAHUE, M. EJNEBY, M. JAKEŠOVÁ, M. CARAVACA, A. ANDERSSON, G. SAHALIANOV, I. DEREK, V. HULT, H. OLOFSSON, P.S. GLOWACKI, E.

Original Title

Wireless optoelectronic devices for vagus nerve stimulation in mice

Type

journal article in Web of Science

Language

English

Original Abstract

Objective. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a promising approach for the treatment of a wide variety of debilitating conditions, including autoimmune diseases and intractable epilepsy. Much remains to be learned about the molecular mechanisms involved in vagus nerve regulation of organ function. Despite an abundance of well-characterized rodent models of common chronic diseases, currently available technologies are rarely suitable for the required long-term experiments in freely moving animals, particularly experimental mice. Due to challenging anatomical limitations, many relevant experiments require miniaturized, less invasive, and wireless devices for precise stimulation of the vagus nerve and other peripheral nerves of interest. Our objective is to outline possible solutions to this problem by using nongenetic light-based stimulation. Approach. We describe how to design and benchmark new microstimulation devices that are based on transcutaneous photovoltaic stimulation. The approach is to use wired multielectrode cuffs to test different stimulation patterns, and then build photovoltaic stimulators to generate the most optimal patterns. We validate stimulation through heart rate analysis. Main results. A range of different stimulation geometries are explored with large differences in performance. Two types of photovoltaic devices are fabricated to deliver stimulation: photocapacitors and photovoltaic flags. The former is simple and more compact, but has limited efficiency. The photovoltaic flag approach is more elaborate, but highly efficient. Both can be used for wireless actuation of the vagus nerve using light impulses. Significance. These approaches can enable studies in small animals that were previously challenging, such as long-term in vivo studies for mapping functional vagus nerve innervation. This new knowledge may have potential to support clinical translation of VNS for treatment of select inflammatory and neurologic diseases.

Keywords

neuromodulation; wireless stimulator; peripheral nerve stimulation; optoelectronics; flexible electronics; vagus nerve stimulation

Authors

DONAHUE, M.; EJNEBY, M.; JAKEŠOVÁ, M.; CARAVACA, A.; ANDERSSON, G.; SAHALIANOV, I.; DEREK, V.; HULT, H.; OLOFSSON, P.S.; GLOWACKI, E.

Released

1. 12. 2022

Publisher

IOP Publishing Ltd

Location

BRISTOL

ISBN

1741-2552

Periodical

Journal of Neural Engineering

Year of study

19

Number

6

State

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Pages count

16

URL

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1741-2552/aca1e3

BibTex

@article{BUT182361,
  author="DONAHUE, M. and EJNEBY, M. and JAKEŠOVÁ, M. and CARAVACA, A. and ANDERSSON, G. and SAHALIANOV, I. and DEREK, V. and HULT, H. and OLOFSSON, P.S. and GLOWACKI, E.",
  title="Wireless optoelectronic devices for vagus nerve stimulation in mice",
  journal="Journal of Neural Engineering",
  year="2022",
  volume="19",
  number="6",
  pages="16",
  doi="10.1088/1741-2552/aca1e3",
  issn="1741-2552",
  url="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1741-2552/aca1e3"
}