The graphene electronic sensors for the brain are possible thanks to an interdisciplinary collaboration between the research Groups led by the CSIC Tenured Scientist Dr Rosa Villa, from the Centro Nacional de Microelectrónica (CNM-IMB-CSIC) and CIBER-BBN, the ICREA Research Prof Jose Antonio Garrido from the Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia (ICN2), who started this research line at the Technische Universität München (TUM), and the ICREA Research Prof Maria Victoria Sánchez-Vives, from the Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS). The basic research led by these researchers offers exciting opportunities of translation into human applications through their interaction in the context of the Graphene Flagship and the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, participated by ICN2.
Based on state-of-the-art microfabrication technologies, the devices consist of arrays of graphene microsensors (approx. 10 µm x 10 µm) assembled on flexible polymeric substrates that adapt to the morphology of the brain surface. Each sensor, in a so-called transistor configuration, detects very small changes in electrical activity in its vicinity. Thus, the electrical activity generated by the neurons in the brain is detected as small changes in the conductivity of the graphene sensor.
These devices are currently being used to study slow wave sleep and epilepsy in animals with the graphene sensors implanted on the surface of their brain, enabling researchers to simultaneously record the electrical activity from different regions of the cortex. These studies will play an essential role in the development of implants to be applied on humans.
The early detection of an epileptic crisis could be possible in patients suffering from epilepsy and implanted with these sensors. The implanted device on the cortex would alert the patient by, for instance, sending an alarm signal to an external mobile device. In addition, the alarm could also alert a medical centre or an ambulance. The technology of flexible graphene sensors lends itself to other biomedical uses in which relevant information needs to be obtained from the cerebral cortex, such as neuroprosthetics for verbal communication or to control artificial limbs.
The technology developed using graphene flexible sensors can also enable future applications for innovative Brain-Machine Interfaces. This ambitious objective could lead to a more efficient communication between humans and artificial electronic systems.
For further information, watch the animation about the sensors on Youtube.
