Surface modification of multilayer graphene electrodes by local printing of platinum nanoparticles using spark ablation for neural interfacing

In this paper, we present the surface modification of multilayer graphene electrodes with platinum (Pt) nanoparticles (NPs) using spark ablation. This method yields an individually selective local printing of NPs on an electrode surface at room temperature in a dry process. NP printing is performed as a post-process step to enhance the...

Multilayer CVD graphene electrodes using a transfer-free process for the next generation of optically transparent and MRI-compatible neural interfaces

Multimodal platforms combining electrical neural recording and stimulation, optogenetics, optical imaging, and magnetic resonance (MRI) imaging are emerging as a promising platform to enhance the depth of characterization in neuroscientific research. Electrically conductive, optically transparent, and MRI-compatible electrodes can optimally...

Monolithic integration of a smart temperature sensor on a modular silicon-based organ-on-a-chip device

One of the many applications of organ-on-a-chip (OOC) technology is the study of biological processes in human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) during pharmacological drug screening. It is of paramount importance to construct OOCs equipped with highly compact in situ sensors that can accurately monitor, in real time, the extracellular...

Towards a Microfabricated Flexible Graphene-Based Active Implant for Tissue Monitoring During Optogenetic Spinal Cord Stimulation

This work aims to develop a smart neural interface with transparent electrodes to allow for electrical monitoring of the site of interest during optogenetic stimulation of the spinal cord. In this paper, a microfabrication process for the wafer-level development of such a compact, active, transparent and flexible implant is presented. Graphene...

Wafer-Scale Graphene-Based Soft Electrode Array with Optogenetic Compatibility

This paper reports on the characterization of a microfabricated wafer-scale, graphene-based, soft implant for spinal cord applications. Graphene is used because of its high transparency and good conductivity, making it suitable for optogenetic applications. Moreover it has a high mechanical strength and is potentially biocompatible. The implant...

Soft, flexible and transparent graphene-based active spinal cord implants for optogenetic studies

Patients affected by spinal cord injuries (SCI) are usually unable to perform trivial motor activities and thus, for therapeutic purposes, epidural spinal cord stimulation (ESCS) is currently used. Moreover, more exploratory research, using optogenetics, is being conducted in rodents for a better understanding of the mechanisms that occur while...

Towards an Active Graphene-PDMS Implant

Neural interface in the form of microelectrodes are used to monitor and treat spinal cord injury and other neurological disorders by the means of recording and stimulation. Despite of the apparent result of these electrical interventions, understanding of the mechanism behind neural stimulation is still inadequate. The use of optical monitoring...

Towards a Microfabricated Flexible Graphene-Based Active Implant for Tissue Monitoring During Optogenetic Spinal Cord Stimulation

Our aim is to develop a smart neural interface with transparent electrodes to allow for electrical monitoring of the site of interest during optogenetic stimulation of the spinal cord. In this work, we present the microfabrication process for the wafer-level development of such a compact, active, transparent and flexible implant. The transparent...

Flexible, graphene-based active implant for spinal cord stimulation In rodents

The most important symptoms of spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are partial or complete loss of sensory and/or motor functions caused by the disruption of the neural pathway between the brain and the extremities of the body. Recent studies have shown that epidural spinal cord stimulation (ESCS) can promote locomotor recovery in patients affected by...