journal article·2026-03-28Open access

Magnetoelectric Nanoparticle‐Based Wireless Brain–Computer Interface: Underlying Physics and Projected Technology Pathway

Elric Zhang, Max Shotbolt, Mostafa Abdel‐Mottaleb, Shawnus Chen, Victoria Andre, Jieyuan Tian, Jonathan Shulgach, Max Murphy, Brian Noga, Ping Liang, Darcy Griffin, Douglas Weber, Marta Pardo, Salvador Pane, Sakhrat Khizroev

Abstract

ABSTRACT Magnetoelectric nanoparticles (MENPs) provide a fully wireless and minutely invasive platform for bidirectional brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) by locally transducing magnetic fields into electric fields, and vice versa. The achievable spatial and temporal resolutions are governed by the control of magnetic field energy at the nanoparticle level. Since the introduction of the MENP concept a decade and a half ago, independent studies have demonstrated MENP‐mediated neural activation in vitro and in vivo, establishing a strong proof of concept for wireless neuromodulation. In contrast, MENP‐based neural recording remains largely theoretical, with existing models indicating that in vivo implementation is feasible. However, progress toward scalable and reliable MENP‐based BCIs is hindered by an incomplete understanding of the nonlinear physics governing MENP operation and nanoparticle–cell interactions. This study addresses this gap by developing a comprehensive theoretical framework that explicitly incorporates nonlinear effects and correlates neuromodulation predictions with available experimental data. The analysis identifies nanoparticle properties and magnetic field amplitude and frequency as key performance determinants. Properly engineered MENPs are predicted to enable deepbrain and cortical neuromodulation and recording with submillimeter spatial resolution and millisecondscale temporal precision, offering a pathway toward clinically viable BCIs without implanted electrodes or genetic modification.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Neuroscience and Neural Engineering · Wireless Power Transfer Systems · Molecular Communication and Nanonetworks

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

College of Engineering University of Miami Coral Gables Florida USA

Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems Federal Institute of Technology at Zurich (ETHZ) Switzerland

College of Engineering and Neuroscience Institute Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USA

The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Miller School of Medicine University of Miami Miami Florida USA

Cellular Nanomed Irvine California USA

The University of Valencia Valencia Spain

Funding

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency · National Science Foundation · National Institutes of Health

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