itself can be made of the optical signal and the drug directly into the brain, and by the electronic control panel to constantly monitor the effects of different inputs generated in the brain.
"By adopting a more organic way than the previous equipment, we constructed and brain tissue of new nerve interface to communicate." MIT researchers, assistant professor of materials science and engineering Polina Anikeeva said.
Because the human brain is not only large, but will also use a variety of signals, so its research have been very difficult. In addition, the traditional neural probe can only record a signal, also limits any time the amount of information derived from the brain. But now, through the use of thinner than a human hair fiber complex, MIT scientists may have found a new technique to eliminate this restriction. Using this fiber, the system they have created an optical signal and can put the drug directly into the brain, and by the electronic control panel to constantly monitor the effects of different inputs.
This new technology has been published in "Nature Biotechnology." Anikeeva said: "The current existence of a neural prosthesis big problem: neural recording equipment and incentives for all metal, semiconductor or glass materials, after these devices implanted in the body, the body's normal activities will damage nearby tissues equipment because These materials are hard and sharp, and the person just a little activity, the human brain will produce a corresponding activity, so ultimately damaged brain tissue. "However, this new technology uses fiber is manufactured with a polymer, and Such polymers and nerve tissue characteristics are very similar, making it fine without prejudice to the conditions surrounding the fragile brain tissue, and can stay in the body longer.
To achieve this effect, the scientists used a new fiber manufacturing process, this new process by professor of materials science at MIT team led by Yoel Fink developed the first, before use in the photonics and other applications. Anikeeva explains: "This approach ultimately produced polymer fibers not only softer, more flexible, looks more like a natural nerve."
The new fiber manufacturing process is the key to a lot of pre-manufactured products, fiber preforms internal needs is divided into a plurality of channels required: channel waveguide propagation of light, hollow tube channel delivery of drugs, the spread of electrical conductive electrode channels. Scientists will first get preform polymer template magnitude scale in inches (2.54 cm). Subsequently, the preform is heated to soften, pulled into finer fibers, but will keep the same multi-channel structure. Single stretch can make 200 times thinner fibers, so that through repeated stretched fibers will become smaller, until the nanoscale. Although a few inches long single preform can be manufactured with a few hundred feet (30.48 cm) of fiber, but care must be taken in the choice of materials, these materials must be able to soften at the same temperature. In the process of tapering the fiber, the fiber in inch scale having features in the nanoscale still been maintained.
By combining different channels in a single fiber, can accurately map neural activity. For example, the light transmission of the light path can be achieved neural excitation light genetic technologies, the impact can be embedded electrode monitoring. At the same time, can be single or multiple drugs injected into the brain, neurons corresponding electrical signal will be recorded through the hollow tube, which can determine the true effect of the drug in real time. In this way, the brain can simultaneously simulate a variety of signals, and ultimately help achieve neurological disorders treatment, while the single function of neural probe is able to achieve this functionality.
MIT scientists said that this new implant system can transmit light signals to the brain injectable drugs without harm to the brain tissue. In addition, only manufacturing-related tasks required specific channel combination, the implant system can also be adjusted to apply to specific research or therapy. Anikeeva said: "You can be applied to a wide range of equipment In addition, this fiber manufacturing systems may ultimately help achieve the brain, spinal cord precise mapping of the different regional responses, it also could lead to a long-term implantation in the human brain, to treat. Certain diseases (Parkinson's) equipment. "
John Rogers-- American University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign professor of materials science and chemical engineering, he was not involved in the study. However, he said: "They described a fascinating new technology versatile fiber, designed to implanted in the brain, and the brain to stimulate and record behavior by electrical, optical, fluid method for their profound achievements, will be expanded. essential for the development of tools to set a basic understanding of brain function. "
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