Wide bandgap semiconductor nanomembranes as a long-term biointerface for flexible, implanted neuromodulator

Journal:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Published:
DOI:
10.1073/pnas.2203287119
Affiliations:
8
Authors:
13
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Research Highlight

Long-lasting electronic implant for exciting nerves

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A flexible electronic implant that can excite nerves could eventually be used to help treat neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and spinal-cord injuries.

Implanted electronics that can stimulate neurons are promising for restoring body functions and even treating neurological disorders. Ideally, they should operate for the lifetime of the patient, but since they come into direct contact with body fluids this has been a challenging requirement to meet.

Now, a team led by researchers from Griffith University in Australia has demonstrated an ultrathin membrane that is sufficiently chemically inert that it may last decades as a bioimplant.

The researchers demonstrated the membrane, which is made of films of silicon carbide and silicon dioxide, by implanting it in mice and using to cause the mice to contract their muscles.

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References

  1. PNAS 119, e2203287119 (2022). doi: 10.1073/pnas.2203287119
Institutions Authors Share
Griffith University, Australia
8.000000
 0.62
University of Southern Queensland (USQ), Australia
2.000000
 0.15
Sensing System Research Center (SSRC), AIST, Japan
1.000000
 0.08
The University of Queensland (UQ), Australia
0.833333
 0.06
University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney), Australia
0.500000
 0.04
JST-ERATO Yamauchi Materials Space-Tectonics Project, Japan
0.333333
 0.03
WPI International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (WPI-MANA), NIMS, Japan
0.333333
 0.03