News on July 22, startup Inbrain Neuro electronics is experimenting with a brain-computer interface (BCI) using graphene chips, and plans to test its graphene-based brain-computer interface during brain tumor removal surgery for patients at the University of Manchester in United Kingdom this summer.

Brain-computer interfaces are not a new technology, but graphene chips are a new solution that does not use metal materials and is made only of carbon, making them less prone to Faraday reactions.

Faraday reaction refers to the electrochemical process that occurs between a metal electrode and an electrolyte solution when a voltage is applied between the metal electrode and the electrolyte solution. A common example of Faraday reaction is oxidation (i.e., rusting), where most brain-computer interfaces are made of metallic materials, while the human brain basically floats in an aqueous electrolyte. Therefore, in order to prevent the premature failure of the brain-computer interface, most products can only receive information.

According to IEEE Spectrum, Inbrain CEO and co-founder Carolina Aguilar said, "Metals have a Faraday reaction that actually causes all the electrons to interact with each other, reducing their efficiency in transmitting signals back to the brain." ”

Since graphene is made from carbon, it can apply up to 200 times the voltage without initiating any Faraday reaction. This means that Inbrain Neuro electronics can use its graphene brain-computer interface to read signals from the patient's brain and stimulate the patient's brain.

The company expects the graphene brain-computer interface to serve as a therapeutic tool, sending millions of pulses and remaining stable. Nevertheless, the company intends to take it step by step and will not yet test the send pulse.

"For the past three years, we've been looking at biocompatibility through various safety studies in large animals, so now we can prepare for the next human trial with these successful trials," Aguilar said. ”

It is reported that in addition to the brain surgery that will take place this summer, graphene chips are also being used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Aguilar added, "For the treatment of Parkinson's disease, we have been conducting different preclinical studies that have demonstrated superiority in (reducing) Parkinson's symptoms relative to current commercial techniques. ”

Source: Science and Technology Innovators, Brain-Computer Interface Industry Alliance

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