Development of organic fiber electrodes for improving brain functions

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K01275
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Biomedical engineering/Biomaterial science and engineering
• Research Institution: National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (2016-2017); The University of Tokyo (2015)
• Principal Investigator: Watanabe Satoshi 国立研究開発法人国立精神・神経医療研究センター, 神経研究所 微細構造研究部, 流動研究員 (80302610)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): TORIMITSU Keiichi 東北大学, 大学院工学研究科, 教授 (00393728) ; KAWAHARA Shigenori 富山大学, 大学院理工学研究部(工学), 教授 (10204752) ; HIRONO Moritoshi 同志社大学, 研究開発推進機構, 准教授 (30318836)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 導電性高分子 / 電気生理学 / シナプス伝達 / 脳波 / 瞬目反射

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Long-term recording of brain activity and stimulation are required for diagnosis of diseases and restoration of body functions through brain-machine interface. Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiphene) (PEDOT) based organic electrodes have high biocompatibility, but their electrical characteristics have been mostly insufficient for application to the brain. We fabricated an improved fiber electrode using PEDOT doped with p-toluene sulfonate (PEDOT-pTS). Using this electrode, we succeeded in recording neural activity or locally stimulating neurons to induce synaptic transmission.

Free Research Field

神経生理学