A startup based on research conducted at Penn State is developing a soft, minimally invasive neural implant intended to reduce inflammation and improve communication with the brain for individuals with drug-resistant epilepsy or living with paralysis. The team recently participated in the Invent Penn State U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps regional short course to learn more about how their product might fit in the medical device market.
Epilepsy affects 50 million people worldwide, including 15 million with drug-resistant forms of the disorder, according to the World Health Organization. In the United States, more than 5 million people live with paralysis, most commonly caused by stroke, spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis.
Currently, epilepsy patients may have a metal neural implant surgically placed in the brain that modulates abnormal brain activity to reduce seizures.
NeurElectrum, a Penn State-affiliated startup, is developing a soft polymer neural implant designed to conform to a patient's unique brain anatomy. NeurElectrum entrepreneurial lead and Penn State doctoral candidate Marzia Momin said that the traditional metal-based neural implants are rigid, which makes them poorly matched to soft brain tissue. She said that over time, this mechanical mismatch can contribute to long-term inflammation, discomfort and, in some cases, repeated antibiotic use.
"Most neural implants today are made from rigid, metal-based materials. Ours is a soft hydrogel," said Momin, who is pursuing a doctorate in the Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics in the Penn State College of Engineering. A hydrogel is a porous, water-rich polymer material that is flexible and closely resembles the properties of living tissue. Momin explained that the hydrogel material allows the device to be personalized to each individual's unique anatomical needs. This means that the device can be placed on the surface of the brain rather than deeply inserted.
Momin has studied personalized, patient-specific medical solutions since 2016, beginning with work in cardiovascular mechanics and spinal biomechanics before shifting to neural implants during her master's and doctoral studies at Penn State.
"Everything in our bodies is different from person to person," she said. "From my earliest research, I wanted to understand how we can design medical devices that fit those differences and improve people's lives."
At Penn State, Momin joined the lab of Tao Zhou, assistant professor of engineering science and mechanics and NeurElectrum's principal investigator and technical lead.
To better understand the clinical need and potential market, Momin enrolled in the Invent Penn State regional NSF I-Corps Short Course in 2024. The program uses experiential education to help researchers learn customer discovery skills, validate market need and move a startup idea toward commercialization.
"Prior to the regional I-Corps program, I didn't know about the current devices surgeons are using or the problems they are facing with those devices," Momin said. "I talked to several neurosurgeons, and I figured out that there is a need. Their number one concern with the current devices is the inflammation, which is something we were already working to address since day one. The regional program helped me ensure that my solution matches the problems and concerns of the patients and the neurosurgeons."
Momin went on to participate in the NSF I-Corps National Teams program in 2025, receiving a $20,000 grant to conduct over 100 customer interviews in seven weeks.
"During the national program, who my actual customer is truly became clarified," she said. "The I-Corps mentors challenged me with rigorous questions, which was extremely helpful. They helped me understand that neurosurgeons are my main customers, as they are the ones most familiar with patient needs and device availability, so they drive procurement."
Momin said she recommends the I-Corps program to other researchers, especially those whose intended customers work in highly specialized fields.
"The I-Corps funding allowed me to attend conferences and meet with neurosurgeons face to face, which was extremely helpful," she said.
While NeurElectrum's initial focus is drug-resistant epilepsy, the technology may also support brain-computer interface applications in the future to help individuals with paralysis control prosthetics.
"For neuroprosthetics, the device can record signals from the brain, send them to a computer for decoding and, ultimately, help drive a paralyzed limb or a prosthetic device," Momin said. "My focus is on building a minimally invasive device that can record and stimulate brain activity without damaging neural tissue."
The device is currently in the preclinical stage, meaning it must undergo testing in animal models and eventually in human clinical trials. They have filed a patent application, which is currently pending. NeurElectrum is currently planning to participate in future conferences and continue the customer discovery process.
About NSF I-Corps
The NSF I-Corps program uses experiential education to help researchers gain valuable insight into entrepreneurship, starting a business or industry requirements and challenges. I-Corps enables the transformation of invention to impact. The curriculum integrates scientific inquiry and industrial discovery in an inclusive, data-driven culture driven by rigor, relevance and evidence. Through I-Corps training, researchers can reduce the time to translate a promising idea from the laboratory to the marketplace. Penn State is part of the NSF I-Corps Mid-Atlantic Hub, a network of universities, NSF-funded researchers, established entrepreneurs, local and regional entrepreneurial communities, and other federal agencies. Hubs work collaboratively to build and sustain a diverse and inclusive innovation ecosystem throughout the United States.
