# Wireless Magnetomechanical Neuromodulation of Targeted Circuits

> **NIH NIH R01** · MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY · 2020 · $1,552,535

## Abstract

Abstract
Scalable approaches to modulate neural activity during complex behaviors are essential to basic study of normal
and aberrant brain function. Here we aim to develop a wireless magnetomechanical neuromodulation technique
suitable for remote excitation of genetically identifiable neuronal populations. This approach will rely on the ability
of anisotropic synthetic magnetic nanodiscs to transduce torques to cell membranes in weak slow-varying
magnetic fields. Our preliminary findings indicate that weak magnetomechanical torques robustly induce activity
in sensory mechanoreceptive neurons. These observations will be extended first to magnetomechanical
neuromodulation of genetically specified brain neurons targeted with nanodiscs via SNAP-tag or nanobody-
based strategies. Our approach will further be refined by sensitizing specific neurons to mechanical stimuli via
expression of a mechanosensitive cation channel TRPV4 (transient receptor potential vanilloid family member
4). Unlike magnetothermal techniques that rely on heat dissipated by isotropic magnetic nanoparticles in high-
frequency alternating magnetic fields, magnetomechanical approach can be implemented with off-the-shelf low-
power electronics and is readily scalable to volumes necessary to conduct behavioral assays in rodents and
neuromodulation experiments in larger models including future studies in humans. We will evaluate our proposed
targeted magnetomechanical neuromodulation approach by investigating its ability to shape dopamine-
dependent behaviors in a mouse model of reward and motivation processing.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9924842
- **Project number:** 1R01NS115576-01
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
- **Principal Investigator:** Polina O Anikeeva
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $1,552,535
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-05-01 → 2024-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9924842

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9924842, Wireless Magnetomechanical Neuromodulation of Targeted Circuits (1R01NS115576-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9924842. Licensed CC0.

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