Specialists from NUST MISIS have developed a biocompatible microelectrode for electrical stimulation of nerve tissue. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation.
The biocompatible microelectrode is applicable in the search for epilepsy foci in the brain, stimulation of peripheral nerves to suppress phantom pain. It will also be useful in studying the regeneration of spinal cord tissues.
Classic metal microelectrodes are insufficiently elastic and flexible due to their hardness. This leads to displacement of the electrodes from the implantation area, causing rejection and chronic inflammation.
The new microelectrode is similar in mechanical properties to nerve and muscle tissues. It consists of polydimethylsiloxane with the addition of conductive nano- and microparticles of carbon in various modifications (graphite, graphene, and amorphous carbon).
Cytotoxicity tests have shown that the material is harmless to human cells. The microelectrode was also tested for dynamic stretching at a temperature of 37°C. It was found that the obtained value is in the range characteristic of nerve tissue.
In the future, the development is planned to be used as a functional part in domestic complexes for neurorehabilitation, in exoskeletons and cyber костюмах.
Earlier www1.ru reported that in Nizhny Novgorod are growing an artificial organ in a test tube — a "brain on a chip."
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