A self-powered biocompatible brain probe for remote blood pressure regulation

Hypertension, a common cardiovascular disorder characterized by elevated blood pressure levels, is conventionally managed using pharmacological interventions to achieve optimal blood pressure control. In this study, a novel self-powered, biocompatible brain probe is presented as a potential long-term and remote approach to blood pressure regulation. The device consists of a piezoelectric transducer, an electronic module, brain stimulating electrodes, and a drug microneedle array. As the resonator, the piezoelectric transducer is embedded in resonant structure within resin shell, enabling the harvesting of acoustic energy from smartphone audio tone without any external power sources. By programming specific audio signals, the resonator can be activated, and the electronic module can output corresponding electrostimulation signals on demand. Implanted brain stimulating electrodes in the ventrolateral periaqueductal grey matter (vlPAG) of rats can be wirelessly controlled by the smartphone, resulting in a significant reduction in blood pressure of approximately 20 mmHg. The device's drug microneedle array, located beneath the pedestal of device, can deliver antibiotics percutaneously to prevent post-surgical infections, indicating a biocompatible approach for long-term hypertension treatment. This novel, self-powered and wireless treatment has significant potential for clinical hypertension therapy and may broaden the scope of self-powered techniques for telemedicine and brain-machine interfaces. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd.