Researchers at Rice University have developed a magnetoelectric material that can stimulate neural tissue and allow nerve signals to flow despite severed connections.
Published in Bioprinting.
This material converts magnetic fields into electric fields, and tests on rats have shown that it can spark neurons to restore a sensory reflex and enable neural signals to flow again.
The material is tiny but sophisticated, made up of lead zirconium titanate and sandwiched between layers of metallic glass alloy.
In the future, this technology could potentially be used to stimulate damaged nerves and restore movement and function.