Testing new therapy to treat neurological disorders

SGGP 08/25/2023 06:18

Researchers from Linköping, Lund and Gothenburg universities in Sweden are experimenting with growing electrodes in living tissue using the body's own molecules as the trigger.

Researchers implanted an electrode into the brain of a zebrafish (left), using it to send nerve signals (right)

The team has created a technique to produce conductive materials without substrate in living tissue, which can be introduced into the body without invasive surgery and are easily biodegradable over time.

They created the electrode using A5, a water-soluble polymer and ion-electron mixture with unique properties such as self-assembling into a gel matrix and creating a highly conductive, stable hydrogel. A5 was injected into the brain of a zebrafish. When A5 interacted with endogenous ions, it formed a stable, soft electrode.

Over time, the soft electrode's thickness increased and dendrites began to grow, forming strong connections with surrounding cells. By applying electrical pulses to the fish's brain from the implanted electrode, the researchers were able to control nerve signals.

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