Silicon Carbide Biotechnology: Carbon-Based Neural Interfaces

• Published in: TMS 2021 150th Annual Meeting & Exhibition Supplemental Proceedings pp. 777 - 790
• Main Authors: Feng, Chenyin, Beygi, Mohamad, Frewin, Christopher L., Tanjil, Md Rubayat-E, Kumar, Ashok, Wang, Michael Cai, Saddow, Stephen E.
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Springer International Publishing AG 2021; Springer International Publishing
• Series: The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series
• Subjects: Carbon-based nanomaterials; Implantable neural interface; Pyrolyzed-photoresist film; SiC
• ISBN: 3030652602; 9783030652609
• ISSN: 2367-1181; 2367-1696
• DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-65261-6_70

Implantable neural interfaces (INI) have gained significant interest since the 1970s. However, the materials currently utilized for neural interfaces suffer from limitations such as degradation, induce a foreign body response, and experience a loss of target neurons in close proximity. Therefore, the development of new implantable device materials for biomedical applications continues to be an important direction of research and development. Carbon-based nanomaterials are promising candidates and also interesting since carbon has many allotropes with different structures and properties, many of which have also been developed for biomedical devices. Moreover, many carbon allotropes have excellent electrical conductivity and mechanical properties. In this framework, the biocompatibility of graphene, carbon nanotubes, and pyrolyzed-photoresist filmsPyrolyzed-photoresist film, which are three very promising carbon-based nanomaterialsCarbon-based nanomaterials (CBN), will be discussed. The neural probe fabricated solely using amorphous silicon carbide as support and pyrolyzed photoresist film (PPF) will be presented as this system represents a highly robust, thin, and flexible neural interface using well-known neurocompatible materials.