Carbon Na**tubes for Better Neural Communications
 

Carbon Na**tubes for Better Neural Communications
[IMG]http://www.medgadget.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/****tubes-for-brain-neurostimulation.jpg[/IMG]Researchers at Rice University have shown*that carbon na**tubes are better than conventional metal electrodes for procedures such as deep brain stimulation*and reading signals from neurons. These tubes*are only a few na**meters in width, but using a process called wet spinning, many na**tubes can be combined to form fibers that are around a quarter the width of human hair. This material was originally created to be used in aerospace applications, where strength, weight, and conductivity are all highly valued attributes.

With the realization that the na**tubes could be used in the brain, scientists at Rice University began studying the potential of this tech**logy in mice with Parkinson’s disease symptoms. By using this highly bio-compatible material, the researchers were able to prevent inflammation and maintain the strong electrical connections once the tubes had been implanted. There is a lot of potential for this new tech**logy. Some of the few that have already been discussed include developing implants that are small e**ugh to respond to feedback from the brain or creating*devices with multiple tiny electrodes that can address individual problems with greater accuracy due to the na**tube’s small size. Furthermore, Matteo Pasquali, the scientist who created*these na**tubes, stated that the fact that these na**tubes are porous and extremely stable gives it an advantage in sensing electrochemical signals and lifespan in comparison*to traditional metal electrodes.

ACS Na** Study: Neural Stimulation and Recording with Bidirectional, Soft Carbon Na**tube Fiber Microelectrodes…

Rice University: Carbon Na**tube Fibers Make Superior Links to Brain…

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