Talei Franzesi, G. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2026

A Fully Endovascular Neural Interface

Electrical stimulation of neural circuits is expanding therapeutic strategies to modulate brain, autonomic, and immune functions. Devices delivered endovascularly offer a less invasive alternative to conventional implanted electrodes, while delivering spatio-temporal specificity superior to noninvasive techniques. We demonstrate a fully endovascular sub-1-mm3 implant, utilizing ultrasound for wireless power delivery and data telemetry in a fashion invariant to device orientation. The implant consists of piezoelectric transducers, an energy storage capacitor, an application-specific integrated circuit, and electrodes packaged on a 7-{micro}m-thick polyimide scaffold. The implant can be delivered through a microcatheter in a manner analogous to conventional neurovascular stents, and self-expands upon deployment to appose the vessel walls. We demonstrate intravascular stimulation of the autonomic nervous system from the carotid artery, achieving modulation of blood pressure in rabbits. This approach establishes a broadly applicable platform for neural interfaces enabling both stimulation and recording.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2024

In Vivo Optical Clearing of Mammalian Brain

Established methods for imaging the living mammalian brain have, to date, taken the brains optical properties as fixed; we here demonstrate that it is possible to modify the optical properties of the brain itself to significantly enhance at-depth imaging while preserving native physiology. Using a small amount of any of several biocompatible materials to raise the refractive index of solutions superfusing the brain prior to imaging, we could increase several-fold the signals from the deepest cells normally visible and, under both one-photon and two-photon imaging, visualize cells previously too dim to see. The enhancement was observed for both anatomical and functional fluorescent reporters across a broad range of emission wavelengths. Importantly, visual tuning properties of cortical neurons in awake mice, and electrophysiological properties of neurons assessed ex vivo, were not altered by this procedure.

bioengineering↗