KAIST researchers develop wireless neural chip to monitor Alzheimer's drug response

A research team led by KAIST, in collaboration with DGIST, the Korea Brain Research Institute (KBRI), and the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), has developed an implantable wireless neural chip designed to monitor brain activity in real time.

The chip integrates a neurotransmitter sensor with a microLED for light stimulation. During experiments involving miniature pigs, the team used the device to track levels of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter critical for memory and learning, in the prefrontal cortex. After administering the Alzheimer's drug donepezil, researchers observed an increase in acetylcholine signals that gradually returned to baseline levels.

The technology utilizes a sensing layer of porous chitosan and silver-platinum nanowires to convert enzymatic reactions into electrical signals. Additionally, the integrated microLED allows for optogenetic stimulation to activate nerve cells. This dual-functionality aims to help researchers better understand drug mechanisms and develop adaptive brain stimulation methods.