• Linköping University researchers developed a micropipette that delivers ions to individual neurons without disrupting the extracellular environment.
• Experiments revealed that astrocytes react rapidly to ion shifts, influencing neuron activity in ways not previously understood.
• The technology holds therapeutic potential for targeted chemical treatments for brain disorders like epilepsy.

Researchers at Linköping University have developed a new iontronic micropipette that allows for precise control and delivery of ions to individual neurons. This innovative tool enables scientists to study the impact of localized ion concentration changes on neurons and glial cells, specifically astrocytes, without disturbing the delicate extracellular milieu. Initial experiments have unveiled complex dynamics between these cells, particularly the rapid response of astrocytes to ion shifts and their influence on neuron activity. The technology has potential applications in treating neurological diseases such as epilepsy.

• What: Development of an iontronic micropipette that can deliver ions to individual neurons without disturbing the extracellular environment. The pipette enables the study of localized ion concentration changes and their effects on brain cells.
• Who: Researchers at Linköping University, including Daniel Simon and Theresia Arbring Sjöström.
• When: Research published in the journal Small; findings reported on May 7, 2025.
• Where: Laboratory of Organic Electronics (LOE) at Linköping University, Sweden; experiments conducted on slices of hippocampus brain tissue from mice.

The development of the iontronic micropipette represents a significant advancement in neuroscience research. Its ability to deliver ions with high precision allows for a more detailed understanding of how specific ion changes impact individual cells and their interactions. The finding that astrocytes react rapidly to ion shifts before neurons highlights the important role of glial cells in brain function. The potential for targeted treatments of neurological diseases, like epilepsy, is a promising avenue for future research. The fact that this new pipette is similar in use to existing equipment is another boost for its adoption in research labs.

In the long term, this technology could be used to treat neurological diseases such as epilepsy with extremely high precision.

Glial cells are the cells that make up the other – chemical – half of the brain, which we don’t know much about because there has been no way to precisely activate those cells, as they don’t respond to electrical stimulation. But both neurons and glial cells can be stimulated chemically.

The neurons didn’t respond as quickly to the change in ion concentration as we had initially expected. However, the astrocytes responded directly and very dynamically. Only when these were “saturated” were the nerve cells activated. This highlighted the fine-tuned dynamics between different types of cells in the brain in a way that other technologies haven’t managed to do.

The new iontronic micropipette represents a significant advancement in neuroscience, allowing for precise control and study of ion signaling in the brain. The initial findings highlight the crucial role of astrocytes and pave the way for future research into targeted treatments for neurological disorders. Further studies will focus on chemical signaling in both healthy and diseased brain tissue and the development of drug delivery methods, building on the capabilities of this new technology.