Embedded System for Responsive Optogenetic Control of Spontaneous Seizures in a Preclinical Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Model

Sofie Lasure, Sofie Lasure, Lien De Schaepmeester, Sielke Caestecker, Jeroen Spanoghe, Marijke Vergaelen, Rik Verplancke, Johannes Vierock, Robrecht Raedt, Pieter Bauwens

2025

Abstract

Aims: Responsive neuromodulation employing optogenetics is a promising therapy which provides spatial and temporal specificity for temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), a neurological disorder characterised by the occurrence of spontaneous seizures. In this study, we evaluated whether seizures could be detected with a self-designed minimalist embedded system and terminated through activation of the WiChR opsin in the intrahippocampal kainic acid (IHKA) mouse model of temporal lobe epilepsy. Methods: Mice were injected in the hippocampus with kainic acid to simulate TLE and with the AAV2/9 viral vector to induce expression of the WiChR opsin. Intracranial EEG was recorded and processed with a low-power microcontroller to detect the seizure via the amplitude correlation metric. Upon detection, a 473 nm Light Emitting Diode (LED) was activated to illuminate the hippocampus through an optrode. Results: It was possible to responsively illuminate seizures with the embedded system and achieve a significant reduction in seizure duration with a pulse train of 10 Hz, 5 ms, 10 mW for 90 s. A brief parameter study was performed although preliminary results were inconclusive. Conclusions: In this study, we prove that we can responsively suppress seizures in the IHKA mouse model within the limitations of a minimalist embedded system. Additionally, the WiChR opsin has been demonstrated to have a high potential for efficient seizure suppression with limited illumination.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Lasure S., De Schaepmeester L., Caestecker S., Spanoghe J., Vergaelen M., Verplancke R., Vierock J., Raedt R. and Bauwens P. (2025). Embedded System for Responsive Optogenetic Control of Spontaneous Seizures in a Preclinical Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Model. In Proceedings of the 18th International Joint Conference on Biomedical Engineering Systems and Technologies - Volume 1: BIODEVICES; ISBN 978-989-758-731-3, SciTePress, pages 88-99. DOI: 10.5220/0013377000003911

in Bibtex Style

@conference{biodevices25,
author={Sofie Lasure and Lien De Schaepmeester and Sielke Caestecker and Jeroen Spanoghe and Marijke Vergaelen and Rik Verplancke and Johannes Vierock and Robrecht Raedt and Pieter Bauwens},
title={Embedded System for Responsive Optogenetic Control of Spontaneous Seizures in a Preclinical Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Model},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 18th International Joint Conference on Biomedical Engineering Systems and Technologies - Volume 1: BIODEVICES},
year={2025},
pages={88-99},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0013377000003911},
isbn={978-989-758-731-3},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF

JO - Proceedings of the 18th International Joint Conference on Biomedical Engineering Systems and Technologies - Volume 1: BIODEVICES
TI - Embedded System for Responsive Optogenetic Control of Spontaneous Seizures in a Preclinical Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Model
SN - 978-989-758-731-3
AU - Lasure S.
AU - De Schaepmeester L.
AU - Caestecker S.
AU - Spanoghe J.
AU - Vergaelen M.
AU - Verplancke R.
AU - Vierock J.
AU - Raedt R.
AU - Bauwens P.
PY - 2025
SP - 88
EP - 99
DO - 10.5220/0013377000003911
PB - SciTePress