UAE researchers develop tiny device for chronic pain treatment
Seed-sized wireless technology developed in Abu Dhabi could regulate nerve activity without surgery, batteries or connecting wires
ABU DHABI, UAE (MNTV) — Scientists at New York University Abu Dhabi have developed a miniature injectable device that could offer a less invasive approach to treating chronic pain and movement disorders by regulating nerve activity without surgical implantation.
The device, developed in collaboration with Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, is approximately the size of a small seed and can be delivered through a standard needle.
According to research published in Science Advances and reported by ScienceDaily on October 10, the technology uses wireless power supplied from outside the body to deliver controlled electrical signals to targeted nerves.
Once positioned near a specific nerve, the device can modify its activity through programmable stimulation.
Its wireless design eliminates the need for internal batteries, connecting wires or conventional surgical implantation, potentially offering an alternative to existing treatments that include medication and surgically implanted stimulators.
Researchers said the device can be located and monitored using established medical imaging techniques, including ultrasound and computed tomography scans. These methods could help clinicians guide its placement and verify its position after injection.
The technology also allows electrical stimulation to be adjusted according to individual medical needs. This flexibility could help healthcare providers manage conditions involving unwanted or abnormal nerve activity, although its clinical benefits remain to be established.
The research team evaluated the device through laboratory experiments and preclinical testing. Results indicated that it could deliver controlled nerve stimulation consistently under conditions designed to approximate practical use.
Researchers also demonstrated that the device could activate nerves in a living organism, an important preliminary step toward potential medical applications.
Khalil Ramadi, an assistant professor of bioengineering at NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU Tandon who led the study, said the injectable approach could make nerve stimulation therapies simpler to administer while preserving precise control over nerve activity.
Mohamed Elsherif, a research associate at NYU Abu Dhabi and the study’s first author, said the technology could help bridge the gap between non-invasive treatments and traditional implanted devices.
Despite the promising initial findings, researchers have not yet established whether the device can effectively relieve chronic pain or improve movement disorders in human patients. Further studies will be needed to assess its safety, effectiveness and suitability for clinical use.
If subsequent research confirms its benefits, the technology could reduce the need for invasive procedures, potentially lowering procedure-related risks and shortening recovery periods.
Its simplified delivery method could also make advanced nerve stimulation therapies more accessible to patients who may benefit from them.
The study, titled “An injectable, leadless bioelectronic interface for battery-free wireless peripheral neuromodulation,” was published in Science Advances in 2026. Researchers from NYU Abu Dhabi and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi contributed to the work.
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