Soft, bioresorbable coolers for reversible conduction block of peripheral nerves

Abstract

Implantable devices capable of targeted and reversible blocking of peripheral nerve activity may provide alternatives to opioids for treating pain. Local cooling represents an attractive means for on-demand elimination of pain signals, but traditional technologies are limited by rigid, bulky form factors; imprecise cooling; and requirements for extraction surgeries. Here, we introduce soft, bioresorbable, microfluidic devices that enable delivery of focused, minimally invasive cooling power at arbitrary depths in living tissues with real-time temperature feedback control. Construction with water-soluble, biocompatible materials leads to dissolution and bioresorption as a mechanism to eliminate unnecessary device load and risk to the patient without additional surgeries. Multiweek in vivo trials demonstrate the ability to rapidly and precisely cool peripheral nerves to provide local, on-demand analgesia in rat models for neuropathic pain.

Liquid metal-based soft, hermetic, and wireless-communicable seals for stretchable systems

“…T he rapid advancement of stretchable electronics promises to enable new types of human-machine interfaces and soft devices (1)(2)(3). Conventional rigid electronic devices are encased in packaging materials to keep reactive species, such as oxygen and water, away from sensitive materials and thereby ensure the long-term stability of the devices.…”

A free-standing, phase-change liquid metal mold for 3D flexible microfluidics

“…After injury due to an accident or medical surgery, local cooling can block the peripheral nerve activity, representing an attractive form for pain relief. ( Reeder et al, 2022 ) However, traditional cooling technologies are in rigid form and imprecise cooling, and may cause secondary pain due to the cold. Here, we demonstrate a soft, wearable, on-skin microfluidic cooler comprised of a serpentine channel and PEIE-PDMS elastomer ( Figure 4A ).…”

Progress in Pathological and Therapeutic research of HIV-related Neuropathic Pain

“…Xie et al have developed a bioresorbable flexible microfluidic device that can reduce the speed and intensity of excitatory transmission and molecular metabolism in nerve tissues with a certain temperature dependence. The device uses local cooling to produce a reversible blocking effect on the nerve, thus achieving pain relief, and has the advantages of being rapidly reversible and non-addictive (Reeder et al , 2022). Additionally, nondisease-related factors, such as low education and psychological distress, which increase the risk of HRNP, can be ameliorated by nonpharmacological interventions (Peltzer, 2013;Parker et al , 2014).…”