- What’s new: NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) scientists unveiled SPIRAL—a helical, micro‑fluidic brain implant that precisely delivers drugs to multiple brain regions from a single insertion. The study appears in the Journal of Neural Engineering (JNE). New York University Abu Dhabi
- How it works: SPIRAL has evenly spaced outflow ports tuned via computational fluid dynamics so medications distribute uniformly across tissue instead of pooling near a single hole. PubMed
- Evidence so far: In in silico, in vitro and preclinical in vivo tests, the implant achieved multi‑regional dosing and did not increase gliosis versus standard straight catheters. PubMed
- Who’s behind it: The team is led by Khalil B. Ramadi (NYUAD, NYU Tandon), with co‑authors including Batoul Khlaifat and Mahmoud Elbeh. PubMed
- Why it matters: Many brain drugs can’t cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB); direct, targeted delivery could raise effective dose at the target while limiting systemic side effects. PMC
- Where it was published: Journal of Neural Engineering (DOI: 10.1088/1741‑2552/ae0523). PubMed lists the article on Sept 29, 2025 (Vol. 22, Issue 5). NYU’s news release and EurekAlert posted Oct 14, 2025. PubMed+1
- Next steps: The device is positioned for translation to disorders that require dosing across larger brain volumes—for example glioblastoma, Parkinson’s disease, and epilepsy—but human trials will be needed. New York University Abu Dhabi
A new multi‑region drug‑delivery implant
Scientists at New York University in Abu Dhabi have engineered a helical micro‑catheter that can infuse medication from multiple, precisely placed outlets, enabling clinicians to reach several brain regions at once from a single, minimally invasive path. The device—called SPIRAL (Strategic Precision Infusion for Regional Administration of Liquid)—is described this month in Journal of Neural Engineering. New York University Abu Dhabi
Lead author and NYUAD assistant professor Khalil B. Ramadi framed the goal this way: “SPIRAL allows us to reach several regions at once without adding extra risk,” potentially changing how therapy is delivered to focal neurological disease. New York University Abu Dhabi
How SPIRAL works
Most intracerebral drug catheters are straight tubes that dose from one or two exit points, often limiting coverage and creating uneven concentration gradients. SPIRAL’s helical geometry incorporates multiple side ports whose diameters are tuned to equalize flow. In lab and animal studies, the team used computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to balance pressure and flow so the tissue receives a more uniform dose—a key determinant of efficacy and safety. PubMed
Co‑lead author Batoul Khlaifat notes the design “makes it possible to distribute drugs more evenly and across larger regions, while still being safe and minimally invasive.” New York University Abu Dhabi
PhD candidate Mahmoud Elbeh adds that glioblastoma therapy often demands dosing “a large volume of the brain to bypass the blood‑brain barrier,” and the helical, evenly spaced outlets help “cover more tissue from one insertion.” Drug Target Review
What the study showed
In the JNE paper, the team reports:
- In silico CFD models predicted simultaneous dosing through multiple outlets with controllable spatial distribution.
- In vitro tests validated uniform flow from tuned ports.
- In vivo (preclinical) implants showed no increase in gliosis compared with standard straight catheters of similar size/material—supporting chronic viability. PubMed
Paper details: “Helical neural implants for intracerebral drug delivery,” Journal of Neural Engineering, Vol. 22(5), DOI 10.1088/1741‑2552/ae0523. PubMed date: Sept 29, 2025; university news release: Oct 14, 2025. PubMed
Note on journal name: Although some coverage says “Neuroengineering,” the peer‑reviewed article appears in Journal of Neural Engineering (IOP Publishing). PubMed
Why targeted brain delivery matters
Crossing the blood–brain barrier (BBB) is the defining bottleneck in neuro‑therapeutics. One long‑studied alternative is convection‑enhanced delivery (CED)—local, pressure‑driven infusion through implanted catheters to bypass the BBB and raise intraparenchymal concentrations while limiting systemic toxicity. As a leading review summarizes, CED “bypasses the blood‑brain barrier and permits the delivery of high‑dose therapeutics… while limiting associated systemic toxicities.” PMC
Despite promise, conventional CED has been hampered by backflow, heterogeneous distribution, and limited coverage from single‑port cannulas. A neurosurgical review concluded that “the single most important limitation… is the inability to directly visualize drug delivery,” complicating dosing and outcomes. Surgical Neurology International
SPIRAL’s multi‑port, helical architecture directly targets this coverage problem: the device is engineered to expand the treated volume without requiring multiple passes or larger footprints that raise gliosis risk. PubMed
How it fits in the current landscape
Multi‑port catheters in the clinic
Prior efforts to enlarge coverage include multi‑port systems such as the Cleveland Multiport Catheter, which deploys four micro‑catheters for CED; a first‑in‑human trial in recurrent high‑grade glioma established feasibility of higher‑volume, distributed delivery. SPIRAL advances this idea with optimized port sizing and flow equalization along a single helical path. PubMed
Non‑invasive BBB opening
Another active avenue is MRI‑guided focused ultrasound (FUS), which can reversibly open the BBB to let systemic drugs enter targeted regions. As one authoritative review states, “Focused ultrasound is one method to transiently increase permeability of the BBB to promote drug delivery.” PubMed
In 2024–2025, early human studies combining FUS with anti‑amyloid drugs reported localized plaque reduction, while outside experts urged caution about sample sizes and safety trade‑offs. “It’s very exciting, compelling data,” said Eliezer Masliah of the U.S. National Institute on Aging, but larger studies are needed. AP News
Bottom line: SPIRAL doesn’t replace FUS; it represents a complementary, implant‑based route for precise, multi‑region dosing—especially relevant when drugs are too large for BBB opening strategies or when steady, localized infusion is desired. PubMed
What experts are saying
- Khalil B. Ramadi, PhD (NYUAD/NYU Tandon): “SPIRAL allows us to reach several regions at once without adding extra risk.” New York University Abu Dhabi
- Batoul Khlaifat (NYUAD): “[It] makes it possible to distribute drugs more evenly… while still being safe and minimally invasive.” New York University Abu Dhabi
- Mahmoud Elbeh (NYUAD): “Our helical form with tuned, evenly spaced outlets lets us cover more tissue from one insertion.” Drug Target Review
- R.S. D’Amico et al., review on CED (Columbia/Weill Cornell): CED “bypasses the [BBB] and permits… high‑dose therapeutics… while limiting systemic toxicities.” PMC
- Healy & Vogelbaum, neurosurgical review: The field’s “single most important limitation… is the inability to directly visualize drug delivery.” Surgical Neurology International
- Eliezer Masliah, MD (NIA), on BBB opening with FUS: “It’s very exciting, compelling data”—but larger studies are needed to confirm benefit and safety. AP News
(All quotes ≤25 words, lightly excerpted for clarity.)
What’s next: from benchtop to bedside
- Translation and trials. The JNE paper reports preclinical testing; first‑in‑human studies will be needed to evaluate safety, dosing regimens, dwell times, and real‑time monitoring of distribution. PubMed
- Target indications. Multi‑region coverage aligns with diseases that require large‑volume dosing, such as glioblastoma (tumor margins), diffuse epileptic networks, or deep nuclei implicated in Parkinson’s disease. New York University Abu Dhabi
- Pairing with imaging & guidance. CED’s next chapter likely includes image‑guided infusion and co‑infused tracers to visualize distribution—areas flagged by neurosurgeons as essential to overcome historical limitations. Surgical Neurology International
- Beyond drugs. The NYUAD team notes SPIRAL could be adapted for electrical stimulation and other advanced therapies—hinting at a modular neuro‑intervention platform rather than a single‑use catheter. New York University Abu Dhabi
The big picture
For decades, neuro‑oncology and movement‑disorder specialists have wrestled with a fundamental trade‑off: how to deliver enough drug to the right brain regions without bathing the rest of the body in toxicity. SPIRAL adds a clever fluidic solution to the toolbox: multi‑region precision dosing through a single, minimally invasive path—demonstrated preclinically, and now poised for clinical exploration. PubMed
Sources & further reading
- Original paper: Khlaifat B. et al. “Helical neural implants for intracerebral drug delivery,” Journal of Neural Engineering, 22(5), 2025. DOI: 10.1088/1741‑2552/ae0523. (PubMed record with abstract, affiliations, and methods.) PubMed
- University release: “Breakthrough Brain Implant from NYU Abu Dhabi Enables Safer, More Precise Drug Delivery” (with quotes and device overview). New York University Abu Dhabi
- EurekAlert! news post (publication date, DOI link, quotes). EurekAlert!
- Drug Target Review coverage (summarizes design and quotes). Drug Target Review
- Background on CED: D’Amico RS et al. “Convection‑enhanced drug delivery for glioblastoma: a review.” J Neurooncol (open‑access on PMC). PMC
- Neurosurgical perspective on challenges (backflow, placement, visualization): Healy & Vogelbaum. Surgical Neurology International. Surgical Neurology International
- Complementary approach—Focused ultrasound BBB opening: Burgess A. et al. Expert Rev Neurother (review); AP News coverage of recent FUS pilot in Alzheimer’s (Rezai, Masliah quotes). PubMed
- Prior multi‑port catheter trial: Vogelbaum MA et al. “First‑in‑human evaluation of the Cleveland Multiport Catheter…” J Neurosurg (2018). PubMed
Editor’s note on naming
Some outlets refer to the journal as “Neuroengineering.” The peer‑reviewed paper is published in Journal of Neural Engineering (IOP Publishing). We use the formal journal name for accuracy. PubMed
This article is written for a general audience and synthesizes the latest peer‑reviewed findings with expert commentary from primary sources and authoritative reviews.
