An electronic device that delivers drugs within the brain may be able to stop or even prevent seizures in people with epilepsy, researchers reported last night.
The device was developed by experts at the University of Cambridge, UK, and at the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Mines and INSERM in France.
It consists of a probe that monitors neural activity, the developers say. When the signs of a seizure are detected, an ion pump is activated to moves a drug out of the device. The drug provided is a neurotransmitter that is native to the body.
This neurotransmitter acts as the ‘brake’ at the source of the seizure, signalling to the neurons to stop firing and end the seizure. Findings appeared in yesterday’s Science Advances.
The device was successful in lab tests on mice. The team hope the device could also be applied to other conditions such as brain tumours and Parkinson’s disease.
Lead author, Dr Christopher Proctor, said: "In addition to be being able to control exactly when and how much drug is delivered, what is special about this approach is that the drugs come out of the device without any solvent.
"This prevents damage to the surrounding tissue and allows the drugs to interact with the cells immediately outside the device."
The team adds that epileptic seizures can be prevented with small doses of drug – less than 1% of the total amount loaded into the device, meaning that the device could operate for extended periods without the need for refilling.
They add that the drug is processed in the brain rapidly, minimising side effects. However, they caution that the device will not be ready for human use for several years, following tests of the longer-term effects on mice.
Proctor, C. et al. Science Advances 29 August 2018
Leave a Reply