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Novel magnetic nanotransducers for non-invasive neural stimulation

Award Number: R21EB037109
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE Of BIOMEDICAL IMAGING & BIOENGINEERING
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/01/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2029

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Novel magnetic nanotransducers for non-invasive neural stimulation - Project Summary/Abstract This proposal is aimed at developing a novel magnetic nanotransducer that can provide deep tissue electric stimulation. Electrical stimulation has long been used to treat various neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s, epilepsy, pain, or sensory deficits. But it is invasive and has limitations associated the electrodes that need to be implanted. Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a non-invasive technique but suffers from poor spatial selectivity and high power consumption. Optogenetic approaches are hampered by the limited light penetration in brain tissues and usually require an implantable device. A non-invasive technique that can deliver sufficiently strong stimulation to reliably trigger neural activity, and allow targeting of specific areas or cell types, could enable designing effective, specific and long-lasting brain implants to treat a number of neurological conditions much more effectively than what’s possible today. To address this long-standing challenge, we propose to develop a novel nanotransducer that can generate electric potentials up to ~100 mV upon application of an external magnetic field. The nanotransducers have a size of a few hundred nanometers and can be directly injected into tissues or organs. Once placed in the target area, the produced voltages are controlled remotely by an external magnetic field. Thanks to the excellent tissue penetration of magnetic fields but also to the novel design of the nanotransducer, the operating distance is on the order of 1 ~ 10 centimeters, enabling truly deep tissue stimulation. Compared to the current non-invasive technologies, our approach will provide orders of magnitude stronger electrical stimulations. In this proposal, we will develop an ingenuous fabrication method to produce the nanotransducers and validate their efficacy through a comprehensive set of in-vitro, in-vivo and behavioral experiments.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $594,533 )
2026	2026	THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO	3100 MARINE ST	BOULDER	CO	80303	BOULDER	USA	Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health	000	1	4/14/2026	NEW	$594,533
														Subtotal = $594,533

Grand Total All Awards = $594,533

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Novel magnetic nanotransducers for non-invasive neural stimulation

Award Number: R21EB037109

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE Of BIOMEDICAL IMAGING & BIOENGINEERING

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/01/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2029

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