Inkjet-Printed Biofunctional Thermo-Plasmonic Interfaces for Patterned Neuromodulation
- Journal:
- ACS Nano
- Published:
- DOI:
- 10.1021/acsnano.7b06617
- Affiliations:
- 1
- Authors:
- 5
Research Highlight
Printing personalized brain implants
©SEBASTIAN KAULITZKI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty
Inkjet printers could be used to make personalized implants that can be remotely controlled to alter brain activity.
Neurological disorders such as epilepsy could be treated by controlling the activity of brain cells, which will require extremely precise technology. Researchers from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) used an inkjet printer to reproduce microscopically precise patterns with brain cell-sized gold nanoparticles.
They were able to precisely print on to various materials by coating each target surface with electrically charged plastic, which strengthened the bond with the gold dots. By using infrared light to heat the gold nanoparticles, the team could control the activity of lab-grown brain cells.
The high precision of this new technique could lead to implants that could be personalized for patients with brain disorders.
References
- ACS Nano 12, 1128−1138 (2018). doi: 10.1021/acsnano.7b06617
| Institutions | Authors | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), South Korea | 1.00 |