Overview

• A DGIST team led by Professor Kyung-In Jang developed a fully implantable soft neural interface that targets deep brain sites for localized drug infusion.
• The design combines a tapered peristaltic micropump with inclined nozzle–diffuser microchannels to drive unidirectional flow and minimize backflow.
• A wireless control module enabled real-time adjustment of dosage and infusion rate during laboratory testing.
• Benchtop experiments using an agarose brain phantom showed consistent, backflow-free delivery and mechanical compatibility from the soft materials.
• The study, published in npj Flexible Electronics in August 2025, was funded by South Korea’s industry and science ministries, and the team plans long-term stability testing and sensor integration for future personalized therapies.