Keefer Edward W, Botterman Barry R, Romero Mario I, Rossi Andrew F, Gross Guenter W
UTSW Medical School, Department of Plastic Surgery, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.
Nat Nanotechnol. 2008 Jul;3(7):434-9. doi: 10.1038/nnano.2008.174. Epub 2008 Jun 29.
Implanting electrical devices in the nervous system to treat neural diseases is becoming very common. The success of these brain-machine interfaces depends on the electrodes that come into contact with the neural tissue. Here we show that conventional tungsten and stainless steel wire electrodes can be coated with carbon nanotubes using electrochemical techniques under ambient conditions. The carbon nanotube coating enhanced both recording and electrical stimulation of neurons in culture, rats and monkeys by decreasing the electrode impedance and increasing charge transfer. Carbon nanotube-coated electrodes are expected to improve current electrophysiological techniques and to facilitate the development of long-lasting brain-machine interface devices.
在神经系统中植入电子设备以治疗神经疾病正变得越来越普遍。这些脑机接口的成功取决于与神经组织接触的电极。在这里，我们展示了在环境条件下使用电化学技术可以在传统的钨丝和不锈钢丝电极上涂覆碳纳米管。碳纳米管涂层通过降低电极阻抗和增加电荷转移，增强了对培养物、大鼠和猴子神经元的记录和电刺激。预计碳纳米管涂层电极将改善当前的电生理技术，并促进持久脑机接口设备的开发。
