Laser-induced hybrids of carbon nanomaterials for the formation of wearable and implantable electronic biointerfaces

Abstract

The prospects for the development of wearable and implantable electronic biointerfaces based on laser-induced hybrid nanostructures made of carbon nanomaterials are described. Carbon nanotubes and graphene are known well as materials for electrode interfaces that allow recording biopotentials due to low impedance at the biotissue-electrode interface, as well as for creating stimulating centers with a high density of charge carriers for skin and implantable device position. At the same time, miniaturization of recording and stimulating devices forces the interface contact area decrease with an increase in the specific surface area. Long-term mechanical and chemical stability while maintaining electrophysical properties are also important. High flexibility and the necessary mechanical and electrical properties are caused by the ability of nanomaterials to form sp2- and sp3-hybridized linked structures with delocalized electrons. The problem of forming nanostructures from tubes and graphene is the absence of linked arrangement of nanomaterials, which results in a small random number of percolation nodes. The effective use of layers of hybrid nanostructures based on carbon nanotubes and reduced graphene oxide for the formation of electrically conductive interconnections with different topologies on a silicon substrate, as well as an increase in their electrical conductivity by 3 orders of magnitude as a result of the formation of frame nanostructures by laser action are achieved. The layers can be formed on flexible polymer substrates and embedded in polymer matrix in the form of percolation network. Laser formation of composite polymers allows reducing resistance by more than 10 times, as well as providing regulation of the size and number of pores during nonlinear optical interaction of pulsed laser radiation with nanotubes and graphene in polymer matrix. Laser-induced materials can be successfully used as interfaces for recording biopotentials. The formed multiscale structure of composite nanomaterials at the micro- and nanolevel ensures effective transmission of electrical signals during stimulation of biotissues (charge injection capacity: 1 – 2 mC/cm2). Biocompatibility of interfaces during cultivation of various biotissues cells is demonstrated.

Speaker

Alexander Yu. Gerasimenko
National Research University of Electronic Technology (MIET), I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University
Russia

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