MS cure? Researchers develop wearable devices for human cells

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed tiny wearable devices that can specifically wrap human cells. They are said to help against diseases such as multiple sclerosis.

Tiny wearable devices that, like fitness trackers, can act directly on human cells on the body: This could soon become a reality. That's exactly what researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are currently working on.

They have developed tiny, flexible devices that can surround individual nerve cells without damaging them. The so-called wearables are made of a soft polymer called azobenzene. They react to light and can be precisely controlled by the light dosage and direction.

Due to their small size, it is possible that the devices can envelop even the fine, often curved structures of nerve cells. The researchers' goal: to treat neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis. The wearables should improve the electrical conductivity between nerve cells.

Wearable human cell devices

The special thing about the devices is their ability to react to light. This allows them to wrap tightly around neurons. The researchers have discovered that they can precisely control the size and shape of the winding using the light intensity. This makes it possible to tailor the devices exactly to the desired shape of the nerve cells.

The application goes beyond just measuring. Since azobenzene has an insulating effect, the devices could even serve as an artificial myelin layer. This is a natural layer that is responsible for signal transmission in the nerves. In diseases such as multiple sclerosis, in which myelin breaks down, wearables could help restore the functionality of the nerve pathways.

The future of neurobiological research

Research is just beginning, but the possibilities seem enormous. By combining electrical and optical materials, wearables will serve other purposes in the future. Everything seems possible, from targeted stimulation to the transmission of signals.

This would make it possible to develop neurological therapies that were previously unimaginable. The researchers hope that their devices can target specific cell types using molecular coatings. This approach could transform medicine forever by allowing doctors to treat specific diseases directly at the cellular level.

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