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Finally, Having PD is gonna be an enlightening experience...;-) Nic 56/14 On Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 4:36 AM, rayilynlee <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Nanoparticles let scientists tickle brain cells wirelessly > Last Updated: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 | 6:45 PM ET > CBC News > Using electrical signals to stimulate brain and nerve cells can help people > recover from injury and improve the lives of those with Parkinson's disease, > but often requires the surgical implantation of electrodes in the brain, > which are attached to cumbersome wires. > A group of scientists in Cleveland, Ohio, has now found a new method that > could one day allow doctors to activate neurons - brain or nerve cells - > wirelessly using microscopic beads and light. > So far, Case Western Reserve University neuroscientist Ben Strowbridge, > chemist Clemens Burda, and members of their research groups have tried their > technique on slices of rat brain tissue and published the results in a > recent issue of the journal Angewandte Chemie. > The method involves placing beads about 10 nanometres wide - far smaller > than human cells - close to a neuron. A human hair is about 80,000 > nanometres wide. > The beads are made of semiconductors that get electrically excited when > light shines on them. > "Essentially, these are the same particles used to sensitize solar cells," > Burda said. > The illuminated particles produce an electric field or current that > activates the neurons, which respond with their own measurable electrical > signals. > In Strowbridge and Burda's experiments, the nanoparticles were attached to > a very small glass micropipette to make it easier to position the particles, > but ultimately the researchers hope to be able to place a layer of particles > on the brain. > The technique has a number of advantages over current methods to > electrically stimulate the brain, Strowbridge said. > Current methods involve surgery, a much larger metal electrode, typically > one with a contact about one millimetre - one million nanometres - in > diameter. It is hooked up to wires that come out of the brain or skin and > are attached to a control unit. > "It's very invasive and the wires themselves are difficult to deal with," > Strowbridge said. In addition, current methods involve stimulation at only > one or two sites at a time. > With a layer of nanoparticles, the light, and therefore the activation, > could be directed to different areas. > "There's really no other technology that can do that with this degree of > control or spatial resolution." > If the nanoparticles were placed near the surface of the skin, it is > possible that they could be activated by shining a light through the skin. > Otherwise, a fibre optic cable could be used to deliver the light. > Strowbridge and Burda chose to use very small particles in an effort to > make them as uninvasive as possible. Ultimately, they plan to coat them with > a biocompatible glass to ensure they are non-toxic. > The technique still needs to be refined and tested on actual rat brains and > nerves before it can be applied to humans. > > Related > Internal Links > > Deep brain stimulation could help memory loss: study > Magnetic stimulator aims to treat depression patients > Nerve stimulation may help treat cluster headaches > Electrical stimulation promising option for Parkinson's > > Rayilyn Brown > Director AZNPF > Arizona Chapter National Parkinson Foundation > [log in to unmask] > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto: > [log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn