In 2004, Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov at the University of Manchester in England achieved a significant milestone by isolating graphene for the first time. Graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a two-dimensional honeycomb lattice, is recognized as the thinnest and one of the strongest materials known. This discovery earned Geim and Novoselov the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010.
Two decades later, graphene has found applications in various fields including batteries, sensors, semiconductors, air conditioners, and headphones. Currently, its potential is being explored in medical technologies, specifically on the human brain.
Recently, surgeons at the University of Manchester conducted a procedure where a graphene implant, resembling a thin sheet of Scotch tape, was placed temporarily on a patient’s cortex, the outermost layer of the brain. This device, produced by InBrain Neuroelectronics, a Spanish company, is a brain-computer interface (BCI) designed to collect and decode brain signals. InBrain is one of several companies working on BCIs, alongside others such as Neuralink, spearheaded by Elon Musk.
The CEO and cofounder of InBrain, Carolina Aguilar, stated the company aims to develop a commercial product capable of brain decoding and mapping, which could be utilized for various neurological disorders. Brain mapping is a crucial technique for planning brain surgeries, helping surgeons avoid critical areas associated with motor and speech functions.
During the surgery, which lasted for 79 minutes, the graphene implant was tested on a patient who was already undergoing a tumor removal procedure and had consented to the additional experimental use of the device. The InBrain device successfully distinguished between healthy and cancerous brain tissue with a micrometer level of precision.
The University of Manchester is currently hosting InBrain’s first-in-human study, which involves testing the graphene device in up to 10 patients already scheduled for brain surgeries. The study, funded by the European Commission’s Graphene Flagship project, aims to establish the safety of graphene when in direct contact with human brain tissue.
David Coope, the neurosurgeon who led the procedure, highlighted that the InBrain device’s flexibility surpasses that of conventional electrodes, which are less adaptable to the brain’s surface. Traditional electrodes are typically made from platinum iridium and set in silicon, making them relatively stiff compared to the flexible, transparent, 48-electrode graphene sheet developed by InBrain.
In addition to the surface device, InBrain is working on a second type of implant designed to penetrate brain tissue and provide precise electrical stimulation. While the surface device can be employed for brain mapping alone, the company intends to integrate both devices for potential use in treating neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease.