A development study presents an ingenious graphene-based neurotechnology developed by ICN2 and partners, with the capacity for significant developments in neuroscience and healing applications. (Artists concept.) Credit: SciTechDaily.comGroundbreaking graphene neurotechnology established by ICN2 and collaborators assures transformative advances in neuroscience and medical applications, demonstrating high-precision neural user interfaces and targeted nerve modulation.A study published in Nature Nanotechnology provides an ingenious graphene-based neurotechnology with the capacity for a transformative impact in neuroscience and medical applications. This research, led by the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) together with the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and other national and international partners, is currently being developed for restorative applications through the spin-off INBRAIN Neuroelectronics.Key Features of Graphene TechnologyFollowing years of research under the European Graphene Flagship task, ICN2 spearheaded in collaboration with the University of Manchester the advancement of EGNITE (Engineered Graphene for Neural Interfaces), a novel class of versatile, high-resolution, high-precision graphene-based implantable neurotechnology. The results published recently in Nature Neurotechnology aim to contribute with innovative innovations to the flowering landscape of neuroelectronics and brain-computer interfaces.EGNITE develops on the vast experience of its developers in fabrication and medical translation of carbon nanomaterials. This ingenious innovation based upon nanoporous graphene incorporates fabrication processes standard in the semiconductor market to put together graphene microelectrodes of a simple 25 µm in size. The graphene microelectrodes show low impedance and high charge injection, important attributes for flexible and effective neural interfaces.Preclinical Validation of FunctionalityPreclinical studies by numerous neuroscience and biomedical specialists that partnered with ICN2, utilizing various models for both the central and peripheral anxious system, showed the capability of EGNITE in tape-recording high-fidelity neural signals with exceptional clearness and accuracy and, more significantly, manage extremely targeted nerve modulation. The special mix of high-fidelity signal recording and accurate nerve stimulation used by EGNITE innovation represents a potentially vital development in neuroelectronic therapeutics.This ingenious approach addresses a crucial space in neurotechnology, which has seen little development in products over the last twenty years. The development of EGNITE electrodes has the capacity to put graphene at the leading edge of neurotechnological materials.International Collaboration and Scientific LeadershipThe innovation presented today builds on the tradition of the Graphene Flagship, a European effort that throughout the last decade made every effort to advance European strategic management in innovations that depend on graphene and other 2D materials. Behind this clinical breakthrough is a collective effort led by ICN2 scientists Damià Viana (now at INBRAIN Neuroelectronics), Steven T. Walston (now at University of Southern California), and Eduard Masvidal-Codina, under the guidance of ICREA Jose A. Garrido, leader of the ICN2 Advanced Electronic Materials and Devices Group, and ICREA Kostas Kostarelos, leader of the ICN2 Nanomedicine Lab and the Faculty of Biology, Medicine & & Health at the University of Manchester (UK). The research study has actually had the involvement of Xavier Navarro, Natàlia de la Oliva, Bruno Rodríguez-Meana and Jaume del Valle, from the Institute of Neurosciences and the Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). The partnership consists of the contribution from leading worldwide and national organizations, such as the Institut de Microelectrònica de Barcelona– IMB-CNM (CSIC), the National Graphene Institute in Manchester (UK), and the Grenoble Institut des Neurosciences– Université Grenoble Alpes (France) and the University of Barcelona. The technology integration into the basic semiconductor fabrication processes has actually been performed at the Micro and Nanofabrication cleanroom of the IMB-CNM (CSIC), under the supervision of CIBER researcher Dr. Xavi Illa.Clinical Translation: Next StepsThe EGNITE technology described in the Nature Nanotechnology article has actually been patented and accredited to INBRAIN Neuroelectronics, a spin-off based in Barcelona from ICN2 and ICREA, with assistance from IMB-CNM (CSIC). The company, also a partner in the Graphene Flagship job, is leading the translation of the innovation into scientific applications and products. Under the direction of CEO Carolina Aguilar, INBRAIN Neuroelectronics is getting ready for the first-in-human clinical trials of this ingenious graphene technology.The industrial and innovation landscape on semiconductor engineering in Catalonia, where ambitious nationwide techniques plan to develop modern facilities to produce semiconductor technologies based upon emerging products, use an extraordinary opportunity to speed up the translation of such outcomes presented today into scientific applications.Closing RemarksThe Nature Nanotechnology short article explains an ingenious graphene-based neurotechnology that can be upscaled utilizing established semiconductor fabrication procedures, holding the capacity for a transformative effect. ICN2 and its partners continue to advance and develop the described innovation with the objective to translate it into a genuine effective and innovative restorative neurotechnology.Reference: “Nanoporous graphene-based thin-film microelectrodes for in vivo high-resolution neural recording and stimulation” by Damià Viana, Steven T. Walston, Eduard Masvidal-Codina, Xavi Illa, Bruno Rodríguez-Meana, Jaume del Valle, Andrew Hayward, Abbie Dodd, Thomas Loret, Elisabet Prats-Alfonso, Natàlia de la Oliva, Marie Palma, Elena del Corro, María del Pilar Bernicola, Elisa Rodríguez-Lucas, Thomas Gener, Jose Manuel de la Cruz, Miguel Torres-Miranda, Fikret Taygun Duvan, Nicola Ria, Justin Sperling, Sara Martí-Sánchez, Maria Chiara Spadaro, Clément Hébert, Sinead Savage, Jordi Arbiol, Anton Guimerà-Brunet, M. Victoria Puig, Blaise Yvert, Xavier Navarro, Kostas Kostarelos and Jose A. Garrido, 11 January 2024, Nature Nanotechnology.DOI: 10.1038/ s41565-023-01570-5.
This research, spearheaded by the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) together with the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and other nationwide and international partners, is currently being developed for therapeutic applications through the spin-off INBRAIN Neuroelectronics.Key Features of Graphene TechnologyFollowing years of research under the European Graphene Flagship task, ICN2 led in cooperation with the University of Manchester the advancement of EGNITE (Engineered Graphene for Neural Interfaces), an unique class of flexible, high-resolution, high-precision graphene-based implantable neurotechnology. The advancement of EGNITE electrodes has the capacity to put graphene at the forefront of neurotechnological materials.International Collaboration and Scientific LeadershipThe innovation presented today builds on the legacy of the Graphene Flagship, a European initiative that throughout the last years made every effort to advance European strategic leadership in innovations that rely on graphene and other 2D products. Under the instructions of CEO Carolina Aguilar, INBRAIN Neuroelectronics is tailoring up for the first-in-human medical trials of this innovative graphene technology.The industrial and innovation landscape on semiconductor engineering in Catalonia, where enthusiastic nationwide strategies prepare to build cutting edge centers to produce semiconductor technologies based on emerging materials, offer an unmatched opportunity to speed up the translation of such outcomes provided today into clinical applications.Closing RemarksThe Nature Nanotechnology short article explains an ingenious graphene-based neurotechnology that can be upscaled using established semiconductor fabrication procedures, holding the potential for a transformative effect.