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Carnicer-Lombarte A, Boys AJ, Güemes A, Gurke J, Velasco-Bosom S, Hilton S, Barone DG, Malliaras GG. Ultraconformable cuff implants for long-term bidirectional interfacing of peripheral nerves at sub-nerve resolutions. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7523. [PMID: 39214981 PMCID: PMC11364531 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51988-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Implantable devices interfacing with peripheral nerves exhibit limited longevity and resolution. Poor nerve-electrode interface quality, invasive surgical placement and development of foreign body reaction combine to limit research and clinical application of these devices. Here, we develop cuff implants with a conformable design that achieve high-quality and stable interfacing with nerves in chronic implantation scenarios. When implanted in sensorimotor nerves of the arm in awake rats for 21 days, the devices record nerve action potentials with fascicle-specific resolution and extract from these the conduction velocity and direction of propagation. The cuffs exhibit high biocompatibility, producing lower levels of fibrotic scarring than clinically equivalent PDMS silicone cuffs. In addition to recording nerve activity, the devices are able to modulate nerve activity at sub-nerve resolution to produce a wide range of paw movements. When used in a partial nerve ligation rodent model, the cuffs identify and characterise changes in nerve C fibre activity associated with the development of neuropathic pain in freely-moving animals. The developed implantable devices represent a platform enabling new forms of fine nerve signal sensing and modulation, with applications in physiology research and closed-loop therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Carnicer-Lombarte
- University of Cambridge, Electrical Engineering Division, 9 JJ Thomson Ave, Cambridge, CB3 0FA, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander J Boys
- University of Cambridge, Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, United Kingdom
| | - Amparo Güemes
- University of Cambridge, Electrical Engineering Division, 9 JJ Thomson Ave, Cambridge, CB3 0FA, United Kingdom
| | - Johannes Gurke
- University of Cambridge, Electrical Engineering Division, 9 JJ Thomson Ave, Cambridge, CB3 0FA, United Kingdom
- University of Potsdam, Institute of Chemistry, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Santiago Velasco-Bosom
- University of Cambridge, Electrical Engineering Division, 9 JJ Thomson Ave, Cambridge, CB3 0FA, United Kingdom
| | - Sam Hilton
- University of Cambridge, Electrical Engineering Division, 9 JJ Thomson Ave, Cambridge, CB3 0FA, United Kingdom
| | - Damiano G Barone
- University of Cambridge, Electrical Engineering Division, 9 JJ Thomson Ave, Cambridge, CB3 0FA, United Kingdom.
- University of Cambridge, School of Clinical Medicine, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, United Kingdom.
| | - George G Malliaras
- University of Cambridge, Electrical Engineering Division, 9 JJ Thomson Ave, Cambridge, CB3 0FA, United Kingdom.
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2
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Peña E, Pelot NA, Grill WM. Computational models of compound nerve action potentials: Efficient filter-based methods to quantify effects of tissue conductivities, conduction distance, and nerve fiber parameters. PLoS Comput Biol 2024; 20:e1011833. [PMID: 38427699 PMCID: PMC10936855 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Peripheral nerve recordings can enhance the efficacy of neurostimulation therapies by providing a feedback signal to adjust stimulation settings for greater efficacy or reduced side effects. Computational models can accelerate the development of interfaces with high signal-to-noise ratio and selective recording. However, validation and tuning of model outputs against in vivo recordings remains computationally prohibitive due to the large number of fibers in a nerve. METHODS We designed and implemented highly efficient modeling methods for simulating electrically evoked compound nerve action potential (CNAP) signals. The method simulated a subset of fiber diameters present in the nerve using NEURON, interpolated action potential templates across fiber diameters, and filtered the templates with a weighting function derived from fiber-specific conduction velocity and electromagnetic reciprocity outputs of a volume conductor model. We applied the methods to simulate CNAPs from rat cervical vagus nerve. RESULTS Brute force simulation of a rat vagal CNAP with all 1,759 myelinated and 13,283 unmyelinated fibers in NEURON required 286 and 15,860 CPU hours, respectively, while filtering interpolated templates required 30 and 38 seconds on a desktop computer while maintaining accuracy. Modeled CNAP amplitude could vary by over two orders of magnitude depending on tissue conductivities and cuff opening within experimentally relevant ranges. Conduction distance and fiber diameter distribution also strongly influenced the modeled CNAP amplitude, shape, and latency. Modeled and in vivo signals had comparable shape, amplitude, and latency for myelinated fibers but not for unmyelinated fibers. CONCLUSIONS Highly efficient methods of modeling neural recordings quantified the large impact that tissue properties, conduction distance, and nerve fiber parameters have on CNAPs. These methods expand the computational accessibility of neural recording models, enable efficient model tuning for validation, and facilitate the design of novel recording interfaces for neurostimulation feedback and understanding physiological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edgar Peña
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Nicole A. Pelot
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Warren M. Grill
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
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Cao M, Kuthiala S, Jean KJ, Liu HL, Courchesne M, Nygard K, Burns P, Desrochers A, Fecteau G, Faure C, Frasch MG. The Vagus Nerve Regulates Immunometabolic Homeostasis in the Ovine Fetus near Term: The Impact on Terminal Ileum. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:38. [PMID: 38248469 PMCID: PMC10812930 DOI: 10.3390/biology13010038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glucosensing elements are widely distributed throughout the body and relay information about circulating glucose levels to the brain via the vagus nerve. However, while anatomical wiring has been established, little is known about the physiological role of the vagus nerve in glucosensing. The contribution of the vagus nerve to inflammation in the fetus is poorly understood. Increased glucose levels and inflammation act synergistically when causing organ injury, but their interplay remains incompletely understood. We hypothesized that vagotomy (Vx) will trigger a rise in systemic glucose levels and this will be enhanced during systemic and organ-specific inflammation. Efferent vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) should reverse this phenotype. METHODS Near-term fetal sheep (n = 57) were surgically prepared using vascular catheters and ECG electrodes as the control and treatment groups (lipopolysaccharide (LPS), Vx + LPS, Vx + LPS + selective efferent VNS). The experiment was started 72 h postoperatively to allow for post-surgical recovery. Inflammation was induced with LPS bolus intravenously (LPS group, 400 ng/fetus/day for 2 days; n = 23). For the Vx + LPS group (n = 11), a bilateral cervical vagotomy was performed during surgery; of these n = 5 received double the LPS dose, LPS800. The Vx + LPS + efferent VNS group (n = 8) received cervical VNS probes bilaterally distal from Vx in eight animals. Efferent VNS was administered for 20 min on days 1 and 2 +/10 min around the LPS bolus. Fetal arterial blood samples were drawn on each postoperative day of recovery (-72 h, -48 h, and -24 h) as well as at the baseline and seven selected time points (3-54 h) to profile inflammation (ELISA IL-6, pg/mL), insulin (ELISA), blood gas, and metabolism (glucose). At 54 h post-LPS, a necropsy was performed, and the terminal ileum macrophages' CD11c (M1 phenotype) immunofluorescence was quantified to detect inflammation. The results are reported for p < 0.05 and for Spearman R2 > 0.1. The results are presented as the median (IQR). RESULTS Across the treatment groups, blood gas and cardiovascular changes indicated mild septicemia. At 3 h in the LPS group, IL-6 peaked. That peak was decreased in the Vx + LPS400 group and doubled in the Vx + LPS800 group. The efferent VNS sped up the reduction in the inflammatory response profile over 54 h. The M1 macrophage activity was increased in the LPS and Vx + LPS800 groups only. The glucose and insulin concentrations in the Vx + LPS group were, respectively, 1.3-fold (throughout the experiment) and 2.3-fold higher vs. control (at 3 h). The efferent VNS normalized the glucose concentrations. CONCLUSIONS The complete withdrawal of vagal innervation resulted in a 72-h delayed onset of a sustained increase in glucose for at least 54 h and intermittent hyperinsulinemia. Under the conditions of moderate fetal inflammation, this was related to higher levels of gut inflammation. The efferent VNS reduced the systemic inflammatory response as well as restored both the concentrations of glucose and the degree of terminal ileum inflammation, but not the insulin concentrations. Supporting our hypothesis, these findings revealed a novel regulatory, hormetic, role of the vagus nerve in the immunometabolic response to endotoxin in near-term fetuses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingju Cao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Department of Neurosciences, CHU Ste-Justine Research Centre, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1C5, Canada; (M.C.)
| | - Shikha Kuthiala
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Department of Neurosciences, CHU Ste-Justine Research Centre, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1C5, Canada; (M.C.)
| | - Keven Jason Jean
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Department of Neurosciences, CHU Ste-Justine Research Centre, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1C5, Canada; (M.C.)
| | - Hai Lun Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Department of Neurosciences, CHU Ste-Justine Research Centre, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1C5, Canada; (M.C.)
| | - Marc Courchesne
- Biotron Microscopy, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Karen Nygard
- Biotron Microscopy, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Patrick Burns
- Clinical Sciences, CHUV, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada (A.D.)
| | - André Desrochers
- Clinical Sciences, CHUV, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada (A.D.)
| | - Gilles Fecteau
- Clinical Sciences, CHUV, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada (A.D.)
| | - Christophe Faure
- Department of Pediatrics, CHU Ste-Justine Research Centre, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1C5, Canada
| | - Martin G. Frasch
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Department of Neurosciences, CHU Ste-Justine Research Centre, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1C5, Canada; (M.C.)
- Centre de Recherche en Reproduction Animale, l’Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Institute on Human Development and Disability, School of Medicine, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St Box 356460, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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Payne SC, Osborne PB, Thompson A, Eiber CD, Keast JR, Fallon JB. Selective recording of physiologically evoked neural activity in a mixed autonomic nerve using a minimally invasive array. APL Bioeng 2023; 7:046110. [PMID: 37928642 PMCID: PMC10625482 DOI: 10.1063/5.0164951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Real-time closed-loop control of neuromodulation devices requires long-term monitoring of neural activity in the peripheral nervous system. Although many signal extraction methods exist, few are both clinically viable and designed for extracting small signals from fragile peripheral visceral nerves. Here, we report that our minimally invasive recording and analysis technology extracts low to negative signal to noise ratio (SNR) neural activity from a visceral nerve with a high degree of specificity for fiber type and class. Complex activity was recorded from the rat pelvic nerve that was physiologically evoked during controlled bladder filling and voiding, in an extensively characterized in vivo model that provided an excellent test bed to validate our technology. Urethane-anesthetized male rats (n = 12) were implanted with a four-electrode planar array and the bladder instrumented for continuous-flow cystometry, which measures urodynamic function by recording bladder pressure changes during constant infusion of saline. We demonstrated that differential bipolar recordings and cross-correlation analyses extracts afferent and efferent activity, and discriminated between subpopulations of fibers based on conduction velocity. Integrated Aδ afferent fiber activity correlated with bladder pressure during voiding (r2: 0.66 ± 0.06) and was not affected by activating nociceptive afferents with intravesical capsaicin (r2: 0.59 ± 0.14, P = 0.54, and n = 3). Collectively, these results demonstrate our minimally invasive recording and analysis technology is selective in extracting mixed neural activity with low/negative SNR. Furthermore, integrated afferent activity reliably correlates with bladder pressure and is a promising first step in developing closed-loop technology for bladder control.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peregrine B. Osborne
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | | | - Calvin D. Eiber
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Janet R. Keast
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
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Güemes Gonzalez A, Carnicer-Lombarte A, Hilton S, Malliaras G. A multivariate physiological model of vagus nerve signalling during metabolic challenges in anaesthetised rats for diabetes treatment. J Neural Eng 2023; 20:056033. [PMID: 37757803 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/acfdcd] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Objective.This study aims to develop a comprehensive decoding framework to create a multivariate physiological model of vagus nerve transmission that reveals the complex interactions between the nervous and metabolic systems.Approach.Vagus nerve activity was recorded in female Sprague-Dawley rats using gold hook microwires implanted around the left cervical vagus nerve. The rats were divided into three experimental cohorts (intact nerve, ligation nerve for recording afferent activation, and ligation for recording efferent activation) and metabolic challenges were administered to change glucose levels while recording the nerve activity. The decoding methodology involved various techniques, including continuous wavelet transformation, extraction of breathing rate (BR), and correlation of neural metrics with physiological signals.Main results.Decrease in glucose level was consistently negatively correlated with an increase in the firing activity of the intact vagus nerve that was found to be conveyed by both afferent and efferent pathways, with the afferent response being more similar to the one on the intact nerve. A larger variability was observed in the sensory and motor responses to hyperglycaemia. A novel strategy to extract the BR over time based on inter-burst-interval is also presented. The vagus afferent was found to encode breathing information through amplitude and firing rate modulation. Modulations of the signal amplitude were also observed due to changes in heart rate in the intact and efferent recordings, highlighting the parasympathetic control of the heart.Significance.The analytical framework presented in this study provides an integrative understanding that considers the relationship between metabolic, cardiac, and breathing signals and contributes to the development of a multivariable physiological model for the transmission of vagus nerve signals. This work progresses toward the development of closed-loop neuro-metabolic therapeutic systems for diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amparo Güemes Gonzalez
- Electrical Engineering Division, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0FA, United Kingdom
| | - Alejandro Carnicer-Lombarte
- Electrical Engineering Division, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0FA, United Kingdom
| | - Sam Hilton
- Electrical Engineering Division, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0FA, United Kingdom
| | - George Malliaras
- Electrical Engineering Division, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0FA, United Kingdom
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Frasch MG. Heart Rate Variability Code: Does It Exist and Can We Hack It? Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:822. [PMID: 37508849 PMCID: PMC10375964 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10070822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
A code is generally defined as a system of signals or symbols for communication. Experimental evidence is synthesized for the presence and utility of such communication in heart rate variability (HRV) with particular attention to fetal HRV: HRV contains signatures of information flow between the organs and of response to physiological or pathophysiological stimuli as signatures of states (or syndromes). HRV exhibits features of time structure, phase space structure, specificity with respect to (organ) target and pathophysiological syndromes, and universality with respect to species independence. Together, these features form a spatiotemporal structure, a phase space, that can be conceived of as a manifold of a yet-to-be-fully understood dynamic complexity. The objective of this article is to synthesize physiological evidence supporting the existence of HRV code: hereby, the process-specific subsets of HRV measures indirectly map the phase space traversal reflecting the specific information contained in the code required for the body to regulate the physiological responses to those processes. The following physiological examples of HRV code are reviewed, which are reflected in specific changes to HRV properties across the signal-analytical domains and across physiological states and conditions: the fetal systemic inflammatory response, organ-specific inflammatory responses (brain and gut), chronic hypoxia and intrinsic (heart) HRV (iHRV), allostatic load (physiological stress due to surgery), and vagotomy (bilateral cervical denervation). Future studies are proposed to test these observations in more depth, and the author refers the interested reader to the referenced publications for a detailed study of the HRV measures involved. While being exemplified mostly in the studies of fetal HRV, the presented framework promises more specific fetal, postnatal, and adult HRV biomarkers of health and disease, which can be obtained non-invasively and continuously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Gerbert Frasch
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Institute on Human Development and Disability, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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7
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Boys AJ, Carnicer-Lombarte A, Güemes-Gonzalez A, van Niekerk DC, Hilton S, Barone DG, Proctor CM, Owens RM, Malliaras GG. 3D Bioelectronics with a Remodellable Matrix for Long-Term Tissue Integration and Recording. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2207847. [PMID: 36458737 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202207847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Bioelectronics hold the key for understanding and treating disease. However, achieving stable, long-term interfaces between electronics and the body remains a challenge. Implantation of a bioelectronic device typically initiates a foreign body response, which can limit long-term recording and stimulation efficacy. Techniques from regenerative medicine have shown a high propensity for promoting integration of implants with surrounding tissue, but these implants lack the capabilities for the sophisticated recording and actuation afforded by electronics. Combining these two fields can achieve the best of both worlds. Here, the construction of a hybrid implant system for creating long-term interfaces with tissue is shown. Implants are created by combining a microelectrode array with a bioresorbable and remodellable gel. These implants are shown to produce a minimal foreign body response when placed into musculature, allowing one to record long-term electromyographic signals with high spatial resolution. This device platform drives the possibility for a new generation of implantable electronics for long-term interfacing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander J Boys
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, West Cambridge Site, Philippa Fawcett Dr, Cambridge, CB3 0AS, UK
| | - Alejandro Carnicer-Lombarte
- Department of Engineering, Electrical Engineering Division, University of Cambridge, 9 JJ Thomson Ave, Cambridge, CB3 0FA, UK
| | - Amparo Güemes-Gonzalez
- Department of Engineering, Electrical Engineering Division, University of Cambridge, 9 JJ Thomson Ave, Cambridge, CB3 0FA, UK
| | - Douglas C van Niekerk
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, West Cambridge Site, Philippa Fawcett Dr, Cambridge, CB3 0AS, UK
| | - Sam Hilton
- Department of Engineering, Electrical Engineering Division, University of Cambridge, 9 JJ Thomson Ave, Cambridge, CB3 0FA, UK
| | - Damiano G Barone
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, University Neurology Unit, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Christopher M Proctor
- Department of Engineering, Electrical Engineering Division, University of Cambridge, 9 JJ Thomson Ave, Cambridge, CB3 0FA, UK
| | - Róisín M Owens
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, West Cambridge Site, Philippa Fawcett Dr, Cambridge, CB3 0AS, UK
| | - George G Malliaras
- Department of Engineering, Electrical Engineering Division, University of Cambridge, 9 JJ Thomson Ave, Cambridge, CB3 0FA, UK
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Tynan A, Brines M, Chavan SS. Control of inflammation using non-invasive neuromodulation: past, present and promise. Int Immunol 2022; 34:119-128. [PMID: 34558623 PMCID: PMC8783606 DOI: 10.1093/intimm/dxab073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The nervous system has been increasingly recognized as a novel and accessible target in the regulation of inflammation. The use of implantable and invasive devices targeting neural circuits has yielded successful results in clinical settings but does have some risk or adverse effects. Recent advances in technology and understanding of mechanistic pathways have opened new avenues of non-invasive neuromodulation. Through this review we discuss the novel research and outcomes of major modalities of non-invasive neuromodulation in the context of inflammation including transcutaneous electrical, magnetic and ultrasound neuromodulation. In addition to highlighting the scientific observations and breakthroughs, we discuss the underlying mechanisms and pathways for neural regulation of inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aisling Tynan
- Laboratory of Biomedical Science, Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY, USA
| | - Michael Brines
- Laboratory of Biomedical Science, Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY, USA
| | - Sangeeta S Chavan
- Laboratory of Biomedical Science, Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY, USA
- Elmezzi Graduate School of Molecular Medicine, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY, USA
- Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, USA
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Debnath S, Levy TJ, Bellehsen M, Schwartz RM, Barnaby DP, Zanos S, Volpe BT, Zanos TP. A method to quantify autonomic nervous system function in healthy, able-bodied individuals. Bioelectron Med 2021; 7:13. [PMID: 34446089 PMCID: PMC8394599 DOI: 10.1186/s42234-021-00075-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The autonomic nervous system (ANS) maintains physiological homeostasis in various organ systems via parasympathetic and sympathetic branches. ANS function is altered in common diffuse and focal conditions and heralds the beginning of environmental and disease stresses. Reliable, sensitive, and quantitative biomarkers, first defined in healthy participants, could discriminate among clinically useful changes in ANS function. This framework combines controlled autonomic testing with feature extraction during physiological responses. METHODS Twenty-one individuals were assessed in two morning and two afternoon sessions over two weeks. Each session included five standard clinical tests probing autonomic function: squat test, cold pressor test, diving reflex test, deep breathing, and Valsalva maneuver. Noninvasive sensors captured continuous electrocardiography, blood pressure, breathing, electrodermal activity, and pupil diameter. Heart rate, heart rate variability, mean arterial pressure, electrodermal activity, and pupil diameter responses to the perturbations were extracted, and averages across participants were computed. A template matching algorithm calculated scaling and stretching features that optimally fit the average to an individual response. These features were grouped based on test and modality to derive sympathetic and parasympathetic indices for this healthy population. RESULTS A significant positive correlation (p = 0.000377) was found between sympathetic amplitude response and body mass index. Additionally, longer duration and larger amplitude sympathetic and longer duration parasympathetic responses occurred in afternoon testing sessions; larger amplitude parasympathetic responses occurred in morning sessions. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate the robustness and sensitivity of an algorithmic approach to extract multimodal responses from standard tests. This novel method of quantifying ANS function can be used for early diagnosis, measurement of disease progression, or treatment evaluation. TRIAL REGISTRATION This study registered with Clinicaltrials.gov , identifier NCT04100486 . Registered September 24, 2019, https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04100486 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Shubham Debnath
- Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, 350 Community Dr, Manhasset, NY, 11030, USA
| | - Todd J Levy
- Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, 350 Community Dr, Manhasset, NY, 11030, USA
| | - Mayer Bellehsen
- Department of Psychiatry, Unified Behavioral Health Center and World Trade Center Health Program, Northwell Health, Bay Shore, NY, USA
| | - Rebecca M Schwartz
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Epidemiology and Prevention, Northwell Health, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA
- Center for Disaster Health, Trauma, and Resilience, New York, NY, USA
- Northwell Health, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, USA
| | - Douglas P Barnaby
- Northwell Health, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, USA
- Northwell Health, Institute of Health Innovations and Outcomes Research, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA
| | - Stavros Zanos
- Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, 350 Community Dr, Manhasset, NY, 11030, USA
| | - Bruce T Volpe
- Northwell Health, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, USA
- Northwell Health, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA
| | - Theodoros P Zanos
- Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, 350 Community Dr, Manhasset, NY, 11030, USA.
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Abstract
Fluoroquinolones (FQs) are a broad class of antibiotics typically prescribed for bacterial infections, including infections for which their use is discouraged. The FDA has proposed the existence of a permanent disability (Fluoroquinolone Associated Disability; FQAD), which is yet to be formally recognized. Previous studies suggest that FQs act as selective GABAA receptor inhibitors, preventing the binding of GABA in the central nervous system. GABA is a key regulator of the vagus nerve, involved in the control of gastrointestinal (GI) function. Indeed, GABA is released from the Nucleus of the Tractus Solitarius (NTS) to the Dorsal Motor Nucleus of the vagus (DMV) to tonically regulate vagal activity. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current knowledge on FQs in the context of the vagus nerve and examine how these drugs could lead to dysregulated signaling to the GI tract. Since there is sufficient evidence to suggest that GABA transmission is hindered by FQs, it is reasonable to postulate that the vagal circuit could be compromised at the NTS-DMV synapse after FQ use, possibly leading to the development of permanent GI disorders in FQAD.
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11
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Zheng XS, Yang Q, Vazquez AL, Tracy Cui X. Imaging the Efficiency of Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) Doped with Acid-Functionalized Carbon Nanotube and Iridium Oxide Electrode Coatings for Microstimulation. ADVANCED NANOBIOMED RESEARCH 2021; 1:2000092. [PMID: 34746928 PMCID: PMC8552016 DOI: 10.1002/anbr.202000092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Electrical microstimulation has shown promise in restoring neural deficits in humans. Electrodes coated with materials like the conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with acid-functionalized carbon nanotubes (PEDOT/CNTs, or PC) exhibit superior charge injection than traditional metals like platinum. However, the stimulation performance of PC remains to be fully characterized. Advanced imaging techniques and transgenic tools allow for real-time observations of neural activity in vivo. Herein, microelectrodes coated with PC and iridium oxide (IrOx) (a commonly used high-charge-injection material) are implanted in GCaMP6s mice and electrical stimulation is applied while imaging neuronal calcium responses. Results show that PC-coated electrodes stimulate more intense and broader GCaMP responses than IrOx. Two-photon microscopy reveals that PC-coated electrodes activate significantly more neuronal soma and neuropil than IrOx-coated electrodes in constant-voltage stimulation and significantly more neuronal soma in constant-current stimulation. Furthermore, with the same injected charge, both materials activate more spatially confined neural elements with shorter pulses than longer pulses, providing a means to tune stimulation selectivity. Finite element analyses reveal that the PC coating creates a denser and nonuniform electric field, increasing the likelihood of activating nearby neural elements. PC coating can significantly improve energy efficiency for electrical stimulation applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin S. Zheng
- Department of BioengineeringUniversity of Pittsburgh3501 Fifth Ave.PittsburghPA15213USA
| | - Qianru Yang
- Department of BioengineeringUniversity of Pittsburgh3501 Fifth Ave.PittsburghPA15213USA
| | - Alberto L. Vazquez
- Departments of Radiology and BioengineeringUniversity of Pittsburgh3025 E. Carson St.PittsburghPA15203USA
| | - Xinyan Tracy Cui
- Department of BioengineeringUniversity of Pittsburgh3501 Fifth Ave.PittsburghPA15213USA
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12
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Datta-Chaudhuri T. Closed-loop neuromodulation will increase the utility of mouse models in Bioelectronic Medicine. Bioelectron Med 2021; 7:10. [PMID: 34193309 PMCID: PMC8244222 DOI: 10.1186/s42234-021-00071-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Mouse models have been of tremendous benefit to medical science for the better part of a century, yet bioelectronic medicine research using mice has been limited to mostly acute studies because of a lack of tools for chronic stimulation and sensing. A wireless neuromodulation platform small enough for implantation in mice will significantly increase the utility of mouse models in bioelectronic medicine. This perspective examines the necessary functionality of such a system and the technical challenges needed to be overcome for its development. Recent progress is examined and the outlook for the future of implantable devices for mice is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timir Datta-Chaudhuri
- Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY, 11030, USA. .,Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, 500 Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, 11549, USA.
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13
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Cracchiolo M, Ottaviani MM, Panarese A, Strauss I, Vallone F, Mazzoni A, Micera S. Bioelectronic medicine for the autonomic nervous system: clinical applications and perspectives. J Neural Eng 2021; 18. [PMID: 33592597 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/abe6b9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Bioelectronic medicine (BM) is an emerging new approach for developing novel neuromodulation therapies for pathologies that have been previously treated with pharmacological approaches. In this review, we will focus on the neuromodulation of autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity with implantable devices, a field of BM that has already demonstrated the ability to treat a variety of conditions, from inflammation to metabolic and cognitive disorders. Recent discoveries about immune responses to ANS stimulation are the laying foundation for a new field holding great potential for medical advancement and therapies and involving an increasing number of research groups around the world, with funding from international public agencies and private investors. Here, we summarize the current achievements and future perspectives for clinical applications of neural decoding and stimulation of the ANS. First, we present the main clinical results achieved so far by different BM approaches and discuss the challenges encountered in fully exploiting the potential of neuromodulatory strategies. Then, we present current preclinical studies aimed at overcoming the present limitations by looking for optimal anatomical targets, developing novel neural interface technology, and conceiving more efficient signal processing strategies. Finally, we explore the prospects for translating these advancements into clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Cracchiolo
- The BioRobotics Institute and Department of Excellence in Robotics & AI, The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - Matteo Maria Ottaviani
- The BioRobotics Institute and Department of Excellence in Robotics & AI, The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Panarese
- The BioRobotics Institute and Department of Excellence in Robotics & AI, The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - Ivo Strauss
- The BioRobotics Institute and Department of Excellence in Robotics & AI, The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabio Vallone
- The BioRobotics Institute and Department of Excellence in Robotics & AI, The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alberto Mazzoni
- The BioRobotics Institute and Department of Excellence in Robotics & AI, The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - Silvestro Micera
- The BioRobotics Institute and Department of Excellence in Robotics & AI, The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy.,Bertarelli Foundation Chair in Translational NeuroEngineering, Centre for Neuroprosthetics and Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
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14
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Lee SK, Jeakins GS, Tukiainen A, Hewage E, Armitage OE. Next-Generation Bioelectric Medicine: Harnessing the Therapeutic Potential of Neural Implants. Bioelectricity 2020; 2:321-327. [PMID: 34476364 DOI: 10.1089/bioe.2020.0044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioelectric medicine leverages natural signaling pathways in the nervous system to counteract organ dysfunction. This novel approach has potential to address conditions with unmet needs, including heart failure, hypertension, inflammation, arthritis, asthma, Alzheimer's disease, and diabetes. Neural therapies, which target the brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nerves, are already being applied to conditions such as epilepsy, Parkinson's, and chronic pain. While today's therapies have made exciting advancements, their open-loop design-where stimulation is administered without collecting feedback-means that results can be variable and devices do not work for everyone. Stimulation effects are sensitive to changes in neural tissue, nerve excitability, patient position, and more. Closing the loop by providing neural or non-neural biomarkers to the system can guide therapy by providing additional insights into stimulation effects and overall patient condition. Devices currently on the market use recorded biomarkers to close the loop and improve therapy. The future of bioelectric medicine is more holistically personalized. Collected data will be used for increasingly precise application of neural stimulations to achieve therapeutic effects. To achieve this future, advances are needed in device design, implanted and computational technologies, and scientific/medical interpretation of neural activity. Research and commercial devices are enabling the development of multiple levels of responsiveness to neural, physiological, and environmental changes. This includes developing suitable implanted technologies for high bandwidth brain/machine interfaces and addressing the challenge of neural or state biomarker decoding. Consistent progress is being made in these challenges toward the long-term vision of automatically and holistically personalized care for chronic health conditions.
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15
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Toth V, Jayaprakash N, Abbas A, Khan A, Zanos S, Zanos TP. Single-axon level automatic segmentation and feature extraction from immuhistochemical images of peripheral nerves. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2020; 2020:1859-1862. [PMID: 33018362 DOI: 10.1109/embc44109.2020.9175974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Quantitative descriptions of the morphology and structure of peripheral nerves is central in the development of bioelectronic devices interfacing the nerves. While histological procedures and microscopy techniques yield high-resolution detailed images of individual axons, automated methods to extract relevant information at the single-axon level are not widely available. We implemented a segmentation algorithm that allows for subsequent feature extraction in immunohistochemistry (IHC) images of peripheral nerves at the single fiber scale. These features include short and long cross-sectional diameters, area, perimeter, thickness of surrounding myelin and polar coordinates of single axons within a nerve or nerve fascicle. We evaluated the performance of our algorithm using manually annotated IHC images of 27 fascicles of the swine cervical vagus; the accuracy of single-axon detection was 82%, and of the classification of fiber myelination was 89%.
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16
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Jiman AA, Ratze DC, Welle EJ, Patel PR, Richie JM, Bottorff EC, Seymour JP, Chestek CA, Bruns TM. Multi-channel intraneural vagus nerve recordings with a novel high-density carbon fiber microelectrode array. Sci Rep 2020; 10:15501. [PMID: 32968177 PMCID: PMC7511947 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72512-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Autonomic nerves convey essential neural signals that regulate vital body functions. Recording clearly distinctive physiological neural signals from autonomic nerves will help develop new treatments for restoring regulatory functions. However, this is very challenging due to the small nature of autonomic nerves and the low-amplitude signals from their small axons. We developed a multi-channel, high-density, intraneural carbon fiber microelectrode array (CFMA) with ultra-small electrodes (8-9 µm in diameter, 150-250 µm in length) for recording physiological action potentials from small autonomic nerves. In this study, we inserted CFMA with up to 16 recording carbon fibers in the cervical vagus nerve of 22 isoflurane-anesthetized rats. We recorded action potentials with peak-to-peak amplitudes of 15.1-91.7 µV and signal-to-noise ratios of 2.0-8.3 on multiple carbon fibers per experiment, determined conduction velocities of some vagal signals in the afferent (0.7-4.4 m/s) and efferent (0.7-8.8 m/s) directions, and monitored firing rate changes in breathing and blood glucose modulated conditions. Overall, these experiments demonstrated that CFMA is a novel interface for in-vivo intraneural action potential recordings. This work is considerable progress towards the comprehensive understanding of physiological neural signaling in vital regulatory functions controlled by autonomic nerves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad A Jiman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, NCRC - B10 - A-169, 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - David C Ratze
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Elissa J Welle
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, NCRC - B10 - A-169, 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Paras R Patel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, NCRC - B10 - A-169, 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Julianna M Richie
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, NCRC - B10 - A-169, 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Elizabeth C Bottorff
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, NCRC - B10 - A-169, 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - John P Seymour
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, NCRC - B10 - A-169, 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Cynthia A Chestek
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, NCRC - B10 - A-169, 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Tim M Bruns
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, NCRC - B10 - A-169, 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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17
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Dirr EW, Urdaneta ME, Patel Y, Johnson RD, Campbell-Thompson M, Otto KJ. Designing a bioelectronic treatment for Type 1 diabetes: targeted parasympathetic modulation of insulin secretion. BIOELECTRONICS IN MEDICINE 2020; 3:17-31. [PMID: 33169091 PMCID: PMC7604671 DOI: 10.2217/bem-2020-0006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The pancreas is a visceral organ with exocrine functions for digestion and endocrine functions for maintenance of blood glucose homeostasis. In pancreatic diseases such as Type 1 diabetes, islets of the endocrine pancreas become dysfunctional and normal regulation of blood glucose concentration ceases. In healthy individuals, parasympathetic signaling to islets via the vagus nerve, triggers release of insulin from pancreatic β-cells and glucagon from α-cells. Using electrical stimulation to augment parasympathetic signaling may provide a way to control pancreatic endocrine functions and ultimately control blood glucose. Historical data suggest that cervical vagus nerve stimulation recruits many visceral organ systems. Simultaneous modulation of liver and digestive function along with pancreatic function provides differential signals that work to both raise and lower blood glucose. Targeted pancreatic vagus nerve stimulation may provide a solution to minimizing off-target effects through careful electrode placement just prior to pancreatic insertion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elliott W Dirr
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Morgan E Urdaneta
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Yogi Patel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Richard D Johnson
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Martha Campbell-Thompson
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
- Department of Pathology, Immunology, & Laboratory Medicine University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Kevin J Otto
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
- Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
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18
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Güemes Gonzalez A, Etienne-Cummings R, Georgiou P. Closed-loop bioelectronic medicine for diabetes management. Bioelectron Med 2020; 6:11. [PMID: 32467827 PMCID: PMC7227365 DOI: 10.1186/s42234-020-00046-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Modulation of the nervous system by delivering electrical or pharmaceutical agents has contributed to the development of novel treatments to serious health disorders. Recent advances in multidisciplinary research has enabled the emergence of a new powerful therapeutic approach called bioelectronic medicine. Bioelectronic medicine exploits the fact that every organ in our bodies is neurally innervated and thus electrical interfacing with peripheral nerves can be a potential pathway for diagnosing or treating diseases such as diabetes. In this context, a plethora of studies have confirmed the important role of the nervous system in maintaining a tight regulation of glucose homeostasis. This has initiated new research exploring the opportunities of bioelectronic medicine for improving glucose control in people with diabetes, including regulation of gastric emptying, insulin sensitivity, and secretion of pancreatic hormones. Moreover, the development of novel closed-loop strategies aims to provide effective, specific and safe interfacing with the nervous system, and thereby targeting the organ of interest. This is especially valuable in the context of chronic diseases such as diabetes, where closed-loop bioelectronic medicine promises to provide real-time, autonomous and patient-specific therapies. In this article, we present an overview of the state-of-the-art for closed-loop neuromodulation systems in relation to diabetes and discuss future related opportunities for management of this chronic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amparo Güemes Gonzalez
- Centre for Bio-Inspired Technology, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Ralph Etienne-Cummings
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA
| | - Pantelis Georgiou
- Centre for Bio-Inspired Technology, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
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Caravaca AS, Centa M, Gallina AL, Tarnawski L, Olofsson PS. Neural reflex control of vascular inflammation. Bioelectron Med 2020; 6:3. [PMID: 32232111 PMCID: PMC7065709 DOI: 10.1186/s42234-020-0038-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial chronic inflammatory disease that underlies myocardial infarction and stroke. Efficacious treatment for hyperlipidemia and hypertension has significantly reduced morbidity and mortality in cardiovascular disease. However, atherosclerosis still confers a considerable risk of adverse cardiovascular events. In the current mechanistic understanding of the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, inflammation is pivotal both in disease development and progression. Recent clinical data provided support for this notion and treatment targeting inflammation is currently being explored. Interestingly, neural reflexes regulate cytokine production and inflammation. Hence, new technology utilizing implantable devices to deliver electrical impulses to activate neural circuits are currently being investigated in treatment of inflammation. Hopefully, it may become possible to target vascular inflammation in cardiovascular disease using bioelectronic medicine. In this review, we discuss neural control of inflammation and the potential implications of new therapeutic strategies to treat cardiovascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. S. Caravaca
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Center for Bioelectronic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - M. Centa
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Center for Bioelectronic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Biomedical Science and Bioelectronic Medicine, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY 11030 USA
| | - A. L. Gallina
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Center for Bioelectronic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - L. Tarnawski
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Center for Bioelectronic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - P. S. Olofsson
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Center for Bioelectronic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Biomedical Science and Bioelectronic Medicine, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY 11030 USA
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20
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Peeples L. Core Concept: The rise of bioelectric medicine sparks interest among researchers, patients, and industry. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:24379-24382. [PMID: 31796581 PMCID: PMC6900593 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1919040116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
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