The goal is to take promising basic research in organic electronics to improve today’s treatment methods for Parkinson’s disease with electrical stimulation in the brain. It is hoped that this can be developed to the extent that clinical tests on humans are possible when the project is completed.

Four sub-projects

The project is divided into four sub-projects led by professors Magnus Berggren, Daniel Simon, Peter Nilsson and Karin Wårdell. Several other LiU researchers are involved, including surgeon and docent Peter Zsigmond.

Karin Wårdell, professor of biomedical engineering at LiU. Photo: Charlotte Perhammar

“No one knows exactly why Parkinson’s disease develops. But we can see that electrical stimulation of the affected parts of the brain reduces symptoms. The current method used involves placing a rigid metal electrode in the affected area, which requires enormous precision. This technology works, but it can also be hugely improved,” says Karin Wårdell, professor of biomedical engineering at LiU.

Targeted electronic medicines

Today’s treatment with so-called DBS electrodes is expensive and only about one per cent of all sufferers receive it.

The research group is now developing what can be called targeted electronic medicines that can find the part of the brain affected by Parkinson’s. The key to this is electrically conductive plastics, or more precisely conjugated polymers, which are self-assembled chemically inside the body using enzymes and structures that surround the nerve cells in the brain.

The first step in the project is to extend the DBS electrodes using the polymers to achieve better integration of the implant into the brain tissue and thus increase precision. In addition, function can improve over time, which is a weak point for today’s DBS implants. The next step is to further develop the brain implants and create a method where plastic electrodes can be introduced into the brain via blood vessels.

Magnus Berggren, professor of organic electronics at Linköping University. Photo: Jenny Widén

“The idea is that we shouldn’t have to perform surgery that deep in the brain. The electrodes are to be built and amalgamated into the structures of the brain without damaging or interfering with the nerve cells. It sounds a bit like science fiction – I’m aware of that – but we’ve already had promising results,” says Magnus Berggren, professor of organic electronics at Linköping University.

Anchor molecules

For the self-assembling electrodes to find and attach only to the Parkinson’s-affected nerve cells, the researchers will identify specific anchor molecules in the affected areas. These can be identified chemically via specific metabolites, neurotransmitters or accumulations of defective proteins unique to Parkinson’s. The idea is that the anchor molecules should be used as a target for electrode growth. Step three is to chemically identify these anchor molecules.

The final step involves testing and evaluating the implants extending the DBS electrodes as well as those passing through the blood vessels. On project completion, clinically useful implants approved under current EU legislation are to be in place.

The initiative will be called the Promobilia Centre for Electroceuticals.