A research, led by the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) together with the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and other partners, is being developed for therapeutic applications through the spin-off INBRAIN Neuroelectronics.
The technology, known as EGNITE (Engineered Graphene for Neural Interfaces), is a novel class of flexible, high-resolution, high-precision graphene-based implantable neurotechnology. EGNITE microelectrodes, which are only 25 µm in diameter, exhibit low impedance and high charge injection, essential attributes for flexible and efficient neural interfaces.
Preclinical studies demonstrated the capacity of EGNITE to record high-fidelity neural signals with exceptional clarity and precision and, more importantly, afford highly targeted nerve modulation. The unique combination of high-fidelity signal recording and precise nerve stimulation offered by EGNITE technology represents a potentially critical advancement in neuroelectronic therapeutics.
This innovative approach addresses a critical gap in neurotechnology, which has seen little advancement in materials over the last two decades. The development of EGNITE electrodes can place graphene at the forefront of neurotechnological materials.