Remote Control of Hormone Release to Treat Psychiatric Disorders
Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology have recently developed a way to remotely control the release of certain hormones from the adrenal gland. Several mental health disorders have been linked to abnormal levels of stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. Patients with depression, posttraumatic stress disorder and even schizophrenia have demonstrated either abnormally high or low levels of these hormones.
The lab, ran by Polina Anikeeva, an MIT professor of materials science and engineering and cognitive sciences, developed magnetic nanoparticles that can be injected into the adrenal gland. Using rats as models, these particles were shown to activate heat-responsive channels that trigger certain hormone release. When the rats were placed near a weak magnetic field, these particles were able to increase their temperature enough to trigger the release of the hormones without damaging any surrounding tissue.
This discovery could lead to remote treatment of many neurological disorders, even chronic pain. Because the particles would be a one-time injection, this treatment would be much less invasive compared to a direct intervention to the nervous system. It is also projected to be much more cost-effective, meaning more people suffering from these disorders would have access to treatment. The lab plans to continue studying the applications of these nanoparticles in rats. They also plan to expand this research to other organs such as the digestive system and pancreas in hopes of finding treatments to diseases like diabetes and Chron’s disease. These nanoparticles could revolutionize the way society treats hormone-related diseases.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "Researchers achieve remote control of hormone release." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 17 April 2020. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200417212933.htm>.
