From Kolkata to MIT: How Deblina Sarkar’s “Circulatronics” Could Revolutionize Brain Therapy

MIT scientist Dr. Deblina Sarkar, originally from Kolkata, has developed Circulatronics—a nanoscale technology using SWED chips that travel through the bloodstream to treat brain disorders without surgery. Tested successfully in mice, this innovation may revolutionize neural therapy, offering minimally invasive treatments for conditions like Alzheimer’s and brain cancer.

A pioneering scientist from Kolkata is leading a medical breakthrough that could transform how doctors treat brain disorders — without ever needing a scalpel. Dr. Deblina Sarkar, an IIT graduate and assistant professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has introduced a technology that navigates through the bloodstream, targets diseased brain regions, and even embeds itself — all without surgical intervention.

Her invention, known as Circulatronics, was recently featured in Nature Biotechnology and first brought to wider attention by New Atlas. It marks a potential turning point in neuroscience, offering a world where treating chronic neurological conditions might be as simple as receiving an injection.

Nanotechnology and the Birth of “Circulatronics”

At the heart of Circulatronics is a fleet of nanoscale electronic devices called SWEDs (Sub-Cellular Wireless Electro-Optical Devices). These ultra-tiny chips — about one-billionth the size of a grain of rice — can ride on blood cells and perform high-precision tasks deep inside the brain.

To carry out their mission, the SWEDs are merged with immune cells called monocytes. Once injected, these hybrid “cell-electronics” naturally follow the immune system’s pathways, crossing the blood–brain barrier to reach damaged or inflamed brain tissue.

When external near-infrared light is applied, the chips activate, delivering minute electrical impulses that stimulate specific clusters of neurons. In preclinical tests on mice, the combination successfully implanted itself in the designated target area within three days and produced measurable neuronal activation within a region smaller than a strand of hair.

Reimagining Brain Treatment

For years, deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been an effective treatment for debilitating conditions like Parkinson’s, depression, Alzheimer’s, and chronic pain. But DBS currently requires invasive brain surgery to insert electrodes — a costly and risky procedure accessible to only a sliver of patients globally.

In her presentation at the MIT Media Lab, Sarkar highlighted how Circulatronics could remove these obstacles:

“Current brain stimulation technologies demand drilling through the skull and implanting centimeter-sized probes,” she explained. “This makes the process costly, invasive, and out of reach for nearly everyone.”

Circulatronics changes the game by eliminating surgery altogether. According to Sarkar, the chips can “travel through the body’s fluids, evade immune attack, and self-locate in diseased brain areas — all through a simple arm injection.”

The MIT team envisions the same technology being used to treat brain cancer, Alzheimer’s, and other neurodegenerative diseases — and perhaps even serve as synthetic neurons that mimic the behavior of natural brain cells.

Precision Proven in Early Experiments

In collaboration with MIT, Wellesley College, and Harvard University, Sarkar’s team simulated neurological inflammation in mice. After injecting the SWED-based hybrids, researchers observed the devices migrate directly to the affected site.

When activated by laser, the chips triggered production of c-Fos protein, a marker for new neuronal activity — confirming that the stimulation worked exactly as intended. Even more impressive, the chips caused no detectable damage or toxicity, allowing them to coexist harmoniously with brain tissue.

Such precision and biocompatibility could mark a leap forward in long-term neural treatments and implant safety.

Beyond the Brain: A Platform for the Body — and Beyond

Sarkar’s ambitions reach well past neuroscience. She envisions Circulatronics as a universal bioelectronic delivery system, capable of deploying smart medical implants throughout the body. The same method could one day deliver wireless pacemakers, target cancers in different organs, or even assist healthy individuals with cognitive enhancement — a concept she describes as “implantables for the healthy.”

The Scientist Behind the Innovation

Dr. Deblina Sarkar’s journey began in Kolkata, grew through an electrical engineering degree at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, and took her across the world to a Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where her work on nanoscale transistors and biosensors earned international acclaim.

Now at MIT, she leads the Nano Cybernetic Biotrek Lab, a multidisciplinary group merging nanotechnology, biology, and electronics to explore the boundaries of human–machine integration. Among her honors are the NIH Director’s New Innovator Award and recognition among Science News’ “10 Scientists to Watch.”

When Might Humans Benefit?

According to New Atlas, Circulatronics is expected to move toward human trials within three years under Cahira Technologies, an MIT spin-off. While regulatory processes will take time, the implications are vast — a future where treating complex neurological disorders doesn’t require opening the skull at all.

For Sarkar, this mission carries deep purpose. She describes emails from patients worldwide seeking alternatives to invasive brain surgery — stories that fuel her commitment.

“We’re determined to make this technology accessible as soon as possible,” she said. “Our goal is a world where treatment isn’t constrained by geography, wealth, or age.”