IoT-enabled wireless neural implant for chronic, programmable neuropharmacology and optogenetics

1. Sci Adv. 2026 Jul 31;12(31):eaee8648. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aee8648. Epub 2026 Jul 29. IoT-enabled wireless neural implant for chronic, programmable neuropharmacology and optogenetics. Jeong EY(1), Park JW(2), Cho S(1), Han D(1), Kim CY(1)(3), Kim SW(1), Lee W(4), Kim WY(5), Kim JH(2)(5), Jeong JW(1)(6)(7). Author information: (1)School of Electrical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea. (2)Department of Medical Sciences, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea. (3)Querrey Simpson Institute for Bioelectronics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA. (4)Department of Physics, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea. (5)Department of Physiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea. (6)Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea. (7)KAIST Institute for Human Augmentation Convergence, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea. Wireless in vivo neuropharmacology and optogenetics offer a powerful way to link molecular signaling, defined neural populations, and behavior in freely moving animals. However, existing implantable wireless systems developed for this purpose often suffer from imprecise dosing, backflow contamination, and nonrefillable reservoirs, and their reliance on experimenter presence can itself alter neural activity and behavior. Here, we introduce a remotely actuated and programmable implant for drug delivery and optical stimulation (RAPIDO), which integrates a refillable, replaceable, and backflow-free fluidic module with a microscale inorganic light-emitting diode probe in a single miniaturized implant. A replaceable cartridge with an integrated unidirectional valve enables rapid refilling with contamination-free dosing, while a programmable electrochemical pump provides multilevel flow-rate control and linear dose modulation. Dual wireless modes combine smartphone control for on-site interactive experiments with internet connectivity for remotely scheduled, observer-free operation. In freely behaving rodents, RAPIDO enabled repeated wireless pharmacological modulation of locomotor behavior and independent optogenetic manipulation of intracellular signaling during cocaine conditioning. This platform establishes a foundation for chronic multimodal neuromodulation, supporting long-term circuit studies across distributed laboratories. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aee8648 PMID: 42525762 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

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  "study_type": "cohort",
  "evidence_level": "level-3",
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  "clinical_impact": "moderate-impact",
  "practice_recommendation": "monitoring"
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