Key points from article :
Subsense, a neurotechnology startup, has raised a total of $27 million to advance a non-surgical brain–computer interface (BCI) built around engineered nanoparticles rather than implanted electrodes. Unlike most BCIs—which require invasive surgery to place hardware directly into the brain—Subsense aims to create a bidirectional system that can both read and stimulate neural activity without surgery, anesthesia, or permanent implants.
The company’s recent funding round was driven by promising early results in optimizing nanoparticle properties for neural stimulation, signal recording, and biocompatibility. These nanoparticles are designed to be delivered through a nasal spray, cross the blood–brain barrier, and bind to specific receptors in the brain. Once in place, they act as tiny transducers that interface with specialized external hardware and software. Subsense claims this approach could achieve precision comparable to implanted electrodes, while offering the safety and flexibility of a non-surgical system—particles could be updated or replaced as technology evolves.
Subsense is targeting therapeutic applications such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, stroke recovery, depression, chronic pain, and motor rehabilitation. The team is also exploring more futuristic uses, including sensory restoration, decoding inner speech, and long-term human–machine interaction that could eventually interface with AI systems or external memory.
With a new neuroengineering lab in Palo Alto and partnerships across North America and Europe, Subsense is moving quickly into preclinical in vivo studies. The company plans to use the fresh investment to accelerate safety testing, nanoparticle chemistry development, and hardware miniaturization, with pilot human trials expected in 2027.
