Coated Brain Implants

Brain implants can treat several diseases such as Parkinson's disease, depression and epilepsy. The implants work in one of two ways; they can override the brain's own signals by stimulating neurons with electrical impulses, or they can reroute the signal by recording what working neurons are transmitting to non-working parts of the brain.

Researchers at other institutions have confirmed that the implanted microelectrodes would allow a paralyzed person to use their thought to control a computer mouse and move a wheelchair.

The new coating, PEDOT, was developed by Abidjan and his colleagues and is made of three components which allow electrodes to interface more smoothly with the brain. It enables the electrodes to function with less electrical resistance than current models, this means they can communicate more clearly with individual neurons. The coating is made of a natural gel like buffer called alginate hydrogen, and biodegradable Nan fibers full of a controlled release anti-inflammatory drug, it is a special electrically-conductive nonsocial polymer called PEDOT.

The biodegradable, drug-loaded nanofibers battle the "encapsulation" that occurs when the immune system tells the body to bind foreign materials. The nanofibers fight this response by working with the alginate hydrogel to discharge the anti-inflammatory drugs in a controlled, fashion. (4)

 Nanotechnology Companies in California

 Spinal Cord Gel

A spinal cord injury can lead to permanent paralysis and loss of sensation due to the damaged nerve fibers that can not be regenerated. The nerve fibers, also called axons, can grow again, but they do not because the scar tissue that develops around the injury is preventing any growth.

Researchers at Northwestern University have demonstrated that a nano-engineered gel can inhibit the formation of scar tissue and can enable the severed spinal cord fibers to regenerate. The gel is a liquid that is injected into the spinal cord and self-assembles into a scaffold that supports the new nerve fibers growth along the spinal cord, piercing the site of the injury.

Mice with spinal cord injuries that were injected with the gel, showed greatly enhanced ability to use their hind legs and walk after six weeks.

Caution should be used when interpreting the results. "It's important to understand that something that works in mice will not necessarily work in human beings. At this point in time we have no information about whether this would work in human beings." (Kessler)

The nano-engineered gel works in several ways to regenerate spinal cord nerve fibers. It reduces the formation of scar tissue, and it also instructs the stem cells to produce a helpful new cell that makes myelin instead of producing scar tissue. Myelin is a substance that allows the rapid transmission of nerve impulses. (5)

 

 

 
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