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3D microelectrode cluster and stimulation paradigm yield powerful analgesia without noticeable adverse effects

Forni, Matilde LU ; Thorbergsson, Palmi Thor LU ; Thelin, Jonas LU orcid and Schouenborg, Jens LU (2021) In Science Advances 7(41).
Abstract

The lack of satisfactory treatment for persistent pain profoundly impairs the quality of life for many patients. Stimulation of brainstem pain control systems can trigger powerful analgesia, but their complex network organization frequently prevents separation of analgesia from side effects. To overcome this long-standing challenge, we developed a biocompatible gelatin-embedded cluster of ultrathin microelectrodes that enables fine-tuned, high-definition three-dimensional stimulation in periaqueductal gray/dorsal raphe nucleus in awake rats. Analgesia was assessed from both motor reactions and intracortical signals, corresponding to pain-related signals in humans. We could select an individual-specific subset of microelectrodes in each... (More)

The lack of satisfactory treatment for persistent pain profoundly impairs the quality of life for many patients. Stimulation of brainstem pain control systems can trigger powerful analgesia, but their complex network organization frequently prevents separation of analgesia from side effects. To overcome this long-standing challenge, we developed a biocompatible gelatin-embedded cluster of ultrathin microelectrodes that enables fine-tuned, high-definition three-dimensional stimulation in periaqueductal gray/dorsal raphe nucleus in awake rats. Analgesia was assessed from both motor reactions and intracortical signals, corresponding to pain-related signals in humans. We could select an individual-specific subset of microelectrodes in each animal that reliably provided strong pain inhibition during normal and hyperalgesia conditions, without noticeable behavioral side effects. Gait, spontaneous cortical activity at rest, and cortical tactile responses were minimally affected, indicating a highly selective action. In conclusion, our developed biocompatible microelectrode cluster and stimulation paradigm reliably enabled powerful, fine-tuned, and selective analgesia without noticeable side effects.

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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Science Advances
volume
7
issue
41
article number
abj2847
publisher
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
external identifiers
  • pmid:34623922
  • scopus:85116828291
ISSN
2375-2548
DOI
10.1126/sciadv.abj2847
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Authors.
id
bcf4bd8e-2148-4ebe-84c0-25c6c1dd19de
date added to LUP
2021-11-12 12:55:32
date last changed
2024-06-01 19:24:55
@article{bcf4bd8e-2148-4ebe-84c0-25c6c1dd19de,
  abstract     = {{<p>The lack of satisfactory treatment for persistent pain profoundly impairs the quality of life for many patients. Stimulation of brainstem pain control systems can trigger powerful analgesia, but their complex network organization frequently prevents separation of analgesia from side effects. To overcome this long-standing challenge, we developed a biocompatible gelatin-embedded cluster of ultrathin microelectrodes that enables fine-tuned, high-definition three-dimensional stimulation in periaqueductal gray/dorsal raphe nucleus in awake rats. Analgesia was assessed from both motor reactions and intracortical signals, corresponding to pain-related signals in humans. We could select an individual-specific subset of microelectrodes in each animal that reliably provided strong pain inhibition during normal and hyperalgesia conditions, without noticeable behavioral side effects. Gait, spontaneous cortical activity at rest, and cortical tactile responses were minimally affected, indicating a highly selective action. In conclusion, our developed biocompatible microelectrode cluster and stimulation paradigm reliably enabled powerful, fine-tuned, and selective analgesia without noticeable side effects. </p>}},
  author       = {{Forni, Matilde and Thorbergsson, Palmi Thor and Thelin, Jonas and Schouenborg, Jens}},
  issn         = {{2375-2548}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{41}},
  publisher    = {{American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)}},
  series       = {{Science Advances}},
  title        = {{3D microelectrode cluster and stimulation paradigm yield powerful analgesia without noticeable adverse effects}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abj2847}},
  doi          = {{10.1126/sciadv.abj2847}},
  volume       = {{7}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}