Tanya Weaver Thu 16 Oct 2025
Collected at: https://eandt.theiet.org/2025/10/16/tiny-brain-implant-targets-multiple-regions-precise-drug-delivery
A new type of brain implant that can deliver drugs to multiple regions of the brain with high precision has been developed by researchers at New York University (NYU).
The device, called Spiral (strategic precision infusion for regional administration of liquid), is a thin, flexible, helical-shaped tube designed to release medication at several points inside the brain.
The research was conducted by a team from NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), a branch of the US research university NYU based in Abu Dhabi. It looked at how the small and minimally invasive device could offer new possibilities for the treatment of neurological disorders.
Tandon Khalil Ramadi, assistant professor of bioengineering at NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU, who led the research, said: “Neurological disorders often come from very specific regions of the brain, but our current tools for targeting these areas are limited.
“Spiral allows us to reach several regions at once without adding extra risk, which could change how we deliver therapy for these conditions.”
The Spiral device features carefully designed openings along its structure, which enables it to release medication in a controlled manner inside the brain.
Using advanced computer modelling and extensive laboratory testing, the team confirmed the device’s safety and effectiveness.
Importantly, once implanted Spiral was not shown to cause higher levels of inflammation than standard devices. This means it could potentially be used safely for long-term treatments.
Batoul Khlaifat, NYUAD research assistant and co-lead author, said: “Our design solves a big problem with existing brain implants, which usually deliver drugs from just one or two points. Spiral makes it possible to distribute drugs more evenly and across larger regions.”
Mahmoud Elbeh, a NYUAD alumnus currently a PhD candidate at Ramadi lab, which forms part of NYUAD, said: “When diseases like glioblastoma advance, treatment often means delivering drugs straight into a large volume of the brain to bypass the blood-brain barrier.
“Our helical form with tuned, evenly spaced outlets lets us cover more tissue from one insertion. By using CFD [computer fluid dynamics] to set port diameters for equal flow, we create a platform that could translate to drug delivery in other solid organs.”
The researchers say that in the future the Spiral device could be adapted to provide electrical stimulation or other advanced therapies, potentially benefiting people with conditions such as epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders.
Their study – ‘Helical neural implants for intracerebral drug delivery’ – has been published in the Journal of Neural Engineering.
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