Carbon nanotubes may lead to better brain electrodes and neuroprosthetic devices

December 22, 2008 | Source: KurzweilAI

Researchers at the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) have found that carbon nanotubes (CNTs), which are highly conductive and corrosion-resistant, form extremely tight contacts with neuronal cell membranes and could act as a new building block for novel “electrical bypass” systems for treating traumatic injury of the central nervous system.

CNTs could also replace metal parts in clinical applications such as deep brain stimulation for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease or severe depression, and they show promise as a new class of “smart” materials for use in neuroprosthetics applications, such as blocking epileptic attacks, spinal bypasses, and enhancing cognitive functions.

Source: EPFL news release