A Wireless, Implantable, and Stretchable Device for Optogenetic Modulation (WISDOM) in the Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems

The mechanical mismatch between optogenetic implants and soft biological tissues greatly limits their in vivo performance, particularly in the precise modulation of neural circuits that undergo substantial deformation during spontaneous physiological activities. These challenges have long hindered stable and accurate optogenetic investigations of both the central and peripheral nervous systems in freely behaving animals. Here, we present a Wireless, Implantable, and Stretchable Device for Optogenetic Modulation (WISDOM), fabricated through a low-cost and laboratory-reproducible process. Inspired by the tendril mechanics of climbing plants, WISDOM integrates a 3D helical stretchable interconnect structure, endowing the device with exceptional stretchability of up to 91%. Weighing only 0.85 g, WISDOM exhibits excellent encapsulation stability, mechanical robustness, and well-controlled thermal performance, enabling fully implantable and untethered optogenetic modulation in free-moving rodents. Moreover, its customizable µ-LED architecture supports site-specific, multi-site, and patterned surface stimulation, allowing precise modulation across the brain, peripheral nerves, and visceral organs. Overall, WISDOM provides a versatile and long-term stable platform for precise regulation of neural activity throughout the entire organism, offering transformative potential for future diagnostic and therapeutic strategies targeting neurological, cardiovascular, and metabolic disorders.