Flexible Multimodal Brain Implant Enables Light Delivery, Neural Recording, and Targeted Drug Infusion

Researchers from the Technical University of Denmark have developed a new type of brain implant designed to illuminate, listen, and deliver medication within the brain using a single, highly flexible device. The implant, known as the “microfluidic Axialtrode” or mAxialtrode, is a long, needle thin fiber less than half a millimeter thick. Its softness allows it to move with the brain rather than cutting into tissue, reducing damage and improving long term compatibility. The technology is intended to support both fundamental neuroscience research and future treatments for neurological disorders such as epilepsy.

The mAxialtrode integrates multiple functional interfaces along its length, enabling optical stimulation, electrical recording, and targeted drug delivery across different brain layers. This multimodal capability allows researchers to study how signals propagate through the brain and how specific regions respond to light or medication. The implant includes microfluidic channels that can deliver drugs precisely to selected areas, offering a way to modulate neural activity without affecting surrounding tissue. Its optical components allow light based stimulation, while embedded electrodes record neural signals in real time.

The device’s design addresses several limitations of existing brain implants, which are often rigid, bulky, or limited to a single function. By combining optical, electrical, and chemical modalities in a single flexible structure, the mAxialtrode provides a more comprehensive tool for studying brain circuits. Researchers highlight its potential for advancing understanding of conditions such as epilepsy, where seizures originate in specific brain layers and spread through interconnected networks. The implant’s ability to record and intervene across these layers could help map seizure pathways and test targeted therapies.

By integrating light delivery, neural recording, and medication infusion into a single soft implant, the mAxialtrode introduces a versatile platform for probing and modulating brain activity. The technology offers a path toward more precise and less invasive tools for both neuroscience research and future clinical applications.