Researchers discover nanomaterial to treat brain disorders without surgery

In a discovery that could transform treatment for brain disorders, Indian scientists have discovered that a special nanomaterial called graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) can stimulate brain cells without the need for electrodes, lasers or magnets.

This research opens an avenue for therapeutic application of semiconductors for tissue engineering purposes, which can help in treating brain injuries or manage neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

Normally, treatments such as deep brain stimulation require surgical implants, while other methods use magnetic or ultrasound waves to reach brain tissue. These are effective but invasive or limited.

By contrast, GCN is able to “talk” or interact naturally with neurons, which are specialised cells that transmit information through electrical and chemical signals and are the basic building blocks of the brain and nervous system.

When placed near nerve cells, it generates tiny electric fields in response to the brain’s voltage signals. These fields open calcium channels on neurons, triggering growth and improving connections between cells without any external device.

A team from Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali, have demonstrated that GCN helps neurons grow, mature and communicate more effectively by tapping into the brain’s own electrical activity.

The material also boosted dopamine production in lab-grown brain-like cells and reduced toxic proteins linked to Parkinson’s disease in animal models. Dopamine is a chemical that functions as both a neurotransmitter and a hormone, influencing memory, mood and motor control.

“This is the first demonstration of semiconducting nanomaterials directly modulating neurons without external stimulation. It opens new therapeutic avenues for neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s,” said Dr Manish Singh, who led the research. The study has been published in ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, an American peer reviewed journal.

With an ageing global population, diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s are becoming increasingly common. This biocompatible nanomaterial with the ability to stimulate brain cells and reduce disease-linked proteins, offers a potential non-invasive therapy for millions, according to the researches.

“Our findings, supported by experimental and in silico studies, suggest that GCN nanosheets can effectively modulate neuronal behaviour through their semiconducting properties, offering promising avenues for therapeutic interventions in neurodegenerative diseases,” the researchers said.

The breakthrough, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology, could also impact futuristic technologies such as “brainware computing”. Scientists worldwide are experimenting with brain organoids, which are tiny lab-grown brain tissues, as biological processors. Coupling them with semiconducting nanomaterials like GCN could make these living computers more efficient, opening new frontiers in bio-inspired computing.