SNU researchers develops micro-shockwave electronic therapy for safe non-invasive treatment of brain disorders

Seoul National University’s College of Engineering announced that Professor Jai-ick Yoh's research team from the Department of Aerospace Engineering, in collaboration with Professor Hyung-Jin Choi’s team from SNU’s College of Medicine, has developed a non-invasive micro-shockwave therapy for the safe treatment of brain disorders without requiring surgical incisions.

The research was published on September 1 in Brain Stimulation, an internationally recognized journal in the field of brain stimulation.

Traditional treatments for brain disorders often involve the insertion of metal electrodes into the brain, posing significant risks of bleeding and infection. While non-invasive methods have been developed as an alternative, these approaches face challenges in delivering precise stimulation to deep areas of the brain without causing damage. Additionally, research into optimizing signals for nerve regeneration during treatment has been insufficient.

In response to these challenges, the interdisciplinary research teams from the College of Engineering and the College of Medicine have developed a micro-shockwave electronic therapy that can safely stimulate the brain for nerve regeneration without requiring surgical incisions. This innovative method delivers localized signals to deep areas of the brain, such as the hypothalamus and hippocampus, which are critical for memory function. The therapy has been tested in live models, showing activation of neurons, nerve regeneration, and behavioral improvements, thereby validating its effectiveness.

The results showed that the experimental group treated with the electronic therapy exhibited statistically significant nerve regeneration compared to the control group. The therapy also successfully targeted specific brain areas, with no damage to surrounding cells or other regions of the brain, demonstrating its safety and innovation compared to existing non-invasive methods.

This innovative micro-shockwave electronic therapy opens new horizons in non-invasive brain disorder treatment by significantly reducing the risks associated with traditional surgical methods. It not only overcomes the limitations of existing non-invasive methods by allowing targeted stimulation of specific brain areas but also induces various brain cell signals, such as cell differentiation and proliferation, without harming brain function (see Fig. 4). This breakthrough is seen as a major advancement in the treatment of brain disorders.

Professor Jai-ick Yoh emphasized, "This is the world’s first study to prove the use of cell-specific mechanical stimulation for nerve regeneration, making it a groundbreaking achievement. This research has laid a strong foundation for further exploration and collaboration with neuroscientists, leading to the development of new and safe treatment protocols for brain disorders." Professor Hyung-Jin Choi added, "Although this study didn’t directly demonstrate improvements in disease models or memory, it opens new doors for the treatment of brain-related conditions such as dementia, Parkinson's, depression, addiction, OCD, and obesity. We expect it to pave the way for the development of new treatment protocols in neurosurgery."

Dr. Hwichan Ham, one of the lead authors of the paper, received his PhD from Professor Jai-ick Yoh’s SNU Extreme Energy Lab with a dissertation on "Development and Application of Wave Actuators for Non-Invasive Drug Delivery." He has been working for seven years at 'Bazbiomedic,' a startup founded by Professor Yoh, on the development of non-invasive drug delivery medical devices. Co-author Kyu sik Kim is a PhD candidate at Professor Hyungjin Choi’s lab, specializing in the neural circuit mechanisms of the hypothalamus. Meanwhile, Professor Do-Nyun Kim from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at SNU and Ph.D. candidate Jee-Hwan Lee, who is researching finite element analysis for wave mechanics in Professor Kim's AI-driven Simulation and Design Laboratory, also participated as co-authors in the writing of this paper.

□ Introduction to the SNU College of Engineering

Seoul National University (SNU) founded in 1946 is the first national university in South Korea. The College of Engineering at SNU has worked tirelessly to achieve its goal of ‘fostering leaders for global industry and society.’ In 12 departments, 323 internationally recognized full-time professors lead the development of cutting-edge technology in South Korea and serving as a driving force for international development.