Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound stimulation (LIPUS) modulates microglial activation following intracortical microelectrode implantation.
Fan LiJazlyn GallegoNatasha N TirkoJenna GreaserDerek BasheRudra PatelEric ShakerGrace E Van ValkenburgAlanoud S AlsubhiSteven WellmanVanshika SinghCamila Garcia PadillaKyle W GheresJohn I BroussardRoger BagwellMaureen MulvihillTakashi Daniel Yoshida KozaiPublished in: Nature communications (2024)
Microglia are important players in surveillance and repair of the brain. Implanting an electrode into the cortex activates microglia, produces an inflammatory cascade, triggers the foreign body response, and opens the blood-brain barrier. These changes can impede intracortical brain-computer interfaces performance. Using two-photon imaging of implanted microelectrodes, we test the hypothesis that low-intensity pulsed ultrasound stimulation can reduce microglia-mediated neuroinflammation following the implantation of microelectrodes. In the first week of treatment, we found that low-intensity pulsed ultrasound stimulation increased microglia migration speed by 128%, enhanced microglia expansion area by 109%, and a reduction in microglial activation by 17%, indicating improved tissue healing and surveillance. Microglial coverage of the microelectrode was reduced by 50% and astrocytic scarring by 36% resulting in an increase in recording performance at chronic time. The data indicate that low-intensity pulsed ultrasound stimulation helps reduce the foreign body response around chronic intracortical microelectrodes.
Keyphrases
- inflammatory response
- neuropathic pain
- lipopolysaccharide induced
- lps induced
- magnetic resonance imaging
- spinal cord
- spinal cord injury
- public health
- contrast enhanced ultrasound
- resting state
- functional connectivity
- white matter
- ultrasound guided
- high resolution
- cerebral ischemia
- deep learning
- randomized controlled trial
- clinical trial
- cognitive impairment
- electronic health record
- brain injury
- mass spectrometry
- big data
- living cells
- replacement therapy