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Trends in neuroprosthetic technologies to restore sensations

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Title: Trends in neuroprosthetic technologies to restore sensations Author(s): Park, Byungwook; Butterworth, Woojae; Lee, Nayeong; Kim, Sohee Abstract: The loss of sensory function significantly reduces the ability to perform daily activities and lowers quality of life. Accordingly, the artificial replacement or support of impaired sensory function has become one of the main objectives of neural engineering and neuroprosthetics. This review systematically organizes auditory, visual, and somatosensory restoration technologies by target organ-from peripheral sensory organs to the central nervous system-and provides a comprehensive overview of the achievements and limitations of each approach. Auditory restoration includes cochlear, brainstem, and auditory cortex approaches; visual restoration includes retinal, optic nerve, and visual cortex approaches; and somatosensory restoration includes somatosensory cortex and peripheral nerve approaches. Although neuroprosthetics-based sensory restoration technologies have achieved considerable progress, the sensations currently restored remain far from natural perception. This review discusses future directions to address these limitations, focusing on higher-density electrodes, device and system optimization, decoding-based biomimetic stimulation, and personalized stimulation strategies. Ultimately, these advances may enable more natural sensation and improve the quality of life of patients with sensory impairments.

Thermoresponsive Soft and Self-Anchoring Cuff Electrode for Chronic Peripheral Interfaces

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Title: Thermoresponsive Soft and Self-Anchoring Cuff Electrode for Chronic Peripheral Interfaces Author(s): Lee, Seungjun; Park, Byungwook; Eun, Jonghee; Kim, Sohee; Chou, Namsun Abstract: Cuff type neural interfaces are widely used for peripheral nerve stimulation and monitoring. The traditional cuff electrodes typically require sutures or rigid fixation; this can lead to nerve damage and unstable electrode contact, ultimately compromising long-term performance. To address these issues, we developed a thermoresponsive soft and self-anchoring (TSSA) cuff electrode that automatically wraps around nerves in response to body temperature. This functionality is made possible by a shape memory polymer (SMP) substrate designed to soften and deform near physiological temperatures, enabling the electrode to self-close and securely hold without the need for an external force. Additionally, the SMP provides gentle yet stable contact with the nerve, thereby enhancing biocompatibility. In vivo experiments using rat sciatic nerves demonstrated reliable recordings of mechanically evoked nerve responses for 16 weeks, with signal-to-noise ratios reaching approximately 10 and stable impedance profiles. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses showed no significant tissue damage or inflammatory responses caused by the implanted device. By removing the need for sutures and providing a soft, stable contact with the nerve, the cuff electrode represents a safe and durable platform for chronic neural interfacing. The proposed technology holds strong potential for use in prosthetic limbs and bioelectronic medicine.

Automation in microinjection for zebrafish pericardial space with image-based motion control and batch agarose microplate

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 15:00:00 GMT

Title: Automation in microinjection for zebrafish pericardial space with image-based motion control and batch agarose microplate Author(s): Lee, Hyuk-Jin; Lee, Hyun-Kyu; Lee, Sang-Won; Son, Ye-Won; Shin, Jun-Nyeong; Kim, Sohee Abstract: Microinjection enables the precise delivery of substances into specific areas of small animals, such as zebrafish, whose xenograft models can be a promising platform for developing rapid and personalized cancer therapies. However, manual microinjection exhibits experimental variability and low reproducibility, as it relies on the expertise of researchers. To address these problems, automated microinjection systems have been developed in recent years. In this study, we propose a microrobotic system based on an image recognition AI model that extracts key feature points to define the pericardial space in zebrafish larvae at 2 days post-fertilization. Using the geometric relationships among feature points, the system optimizes the glass capillary insertion motion for precise microinjection. We also introduced a batch agarose microplate that prevents dehydration while stabilizing the larvae, which improved the survival rate compared to the conventional plate (log-rank test, p < 0.0001). The proposed automation system achieved success rates of 80.8% (n = 1129) for microinjection and a 92.1% (n = 1143) for survival. Moreover, we successfully injected colorectal cancer cell lines (HCT116 and SW620) into the pericardial space, resulting in an engraftment success rate of 96.2% (n = 610). Our system exhibits higher success rates and reproducibility compared to manual microinjection, allowing even inexperienced researchers to perform stable injections. These results demonstrate that our system effectively enhances the efficiency and reproducibility of experiments involving zebrafish-based cancer research and xenograft model generation.

Optimized Coil Design for Enhanced Electric Field Induction in Peripheral Nerve Stimulation

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 15:00:00 GMT

Title: Optimized Coil Design for Enhanced Electric Field Induction in Peripheral Nerve Stimulation Author(s): Park, Jaeu; Lee, Kyeong Jae; Nagwade, Pritish; Jeong, Jinwoong; Park, Jeong Hoan; Choi, Hongsoo; Kim, Sohee; Lee, Sanghoon Abstract: Peripheral nerve electrical stimulation is widely used for the treatment of neuropathic pain and neural regeneration. However, it often induces adverse biological reactions and unintended activation of surrounding neural tissues. As an alternative, peripheral nerve magnetic stimulation offers a promising, less invasive approach that enables targeted nerve stimulation without direct tissue contact. Despite its potential, it is constrained by the bulkiness of coils and excessive heat generation due to the high currents required. To address these limitations, we conducted a study on coil design optimized for peripheral nerve modulation. Our approach, supported by simulations and animal experiments, focused on optimizing coil geometry to maximize the induced electric field gradient. Among various designs, a four-leaf rhombus-shaped coil demonstrated the highest gradient at the center of the interface. In rat sciatic nerve experiments, this coil, driven by a rectangular pulse with a 200 μs rise time and 25 V amplitude, successfully elicited compound muscle action potentials in both the tibial anterior and gastrocnemius muscles. This study presents design guidelines for peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) coils based on magnetic stimulation as an alternative to conventional electrical stimulation. The proposed approach may serve as a foundation for the development of advanced, miniaturized, and energy-efficient neural stimulation coils. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.