(30% seminar) Gold nanoparticles for high-frequency deep brain stimulation

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an effective treatment method for neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, and severe depression. However, traditional DBS relies on implanted electrodes and is therefore invasive, costly, and associated with surgical risks and other side effects. These limitations motivate the development of non-invasive alternatives capable of providing targeted neuromodulation in deep brain structures. This seminar presents current work toward a non-invasive electromagnetic DBS framework, with the long-term goal of enabling gold nanoparticle (GNP)–assisted neuromodulation. Fundamental electromagnetic theory for GNPs in biological media is first presented. Using homogenization and effective permittivity theory, functionally graded particles and particle suspensions are modeled to capture the effect of particle geometry, grading, and concentration on electromagnetic field distribution and absorption. Non-invasive DBS is then addressed by combining iterative time reversal for microwave field focusing with temporal interference to generate a low-frequency envelope, while maintaining limited tissue heating. By integrating microwave DBS methods with electromagnetic theory for GNPs, this research aims to establish a physically consistent foundation for future GNP-assisted neuromodulation. The long-term vision is a wearable, non-implantable neuromodulation system with the potential to significantly expand the accessibility and clinical impact of DBS therapies.