Flexible graphene-based neurotechnology for high-precision deep brain mapping and neuromodulation in Parkinsonian rats

Abstract Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a neuroelectronic therapy for the treatment of a broad range of neurological disorders, including Parkinson’s disease. Current DBS technologies face important limitations, such as large electrode size, invasiveness, and lack of adaptive therapy based on bioma...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Nicola Ria, Ahmed Eladly, Eduard Masvidal-Codina, Xavi Illa, Anton Guimerà, Kate Hills, Ramon Garcia-Cortadella, Fikret Taygun Duvan, Samuel M. Flaherty, Michal Prokop, Rob. C. Wykes, Kostas Kostarelos, Jose A. Garrido
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58156-z
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850208151755816960
author Nicola Ria
Ahmed Eladly
Eduard Masvidal-Codina
Xavi Illa
Anton Guimerà
Kate Hills
Ramon Garcia-Cortadella
Fikret Taygun Duvan
Samuel M. Flaherty
Michal Prokop
Rob. C. Wykes
Kostas Kostarelos
Jose A. Garrido
author_facet Nicola Ria
Ahmed Eladly
Eduard Masvidal-Codina
Xavi Illa
Anton Guimerà
Kate Hills
Ramon Garcia-Cortadella
Fikret Taygun Duvan
Samuel M. Flaherty
Michal Prokop
Rob. C. Wykes
Kostas Kostarelos
Jose A. Garrido
author_sort Nicola Ria
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a neuroelectronic therapy for the treatment of a broad range of neurological disorders, including Parkinson’s disease. Current DBS technologies face important limitations, such as large electrode size, invasiveness, and lack of adaptive therapy based on biomarker monitoring. In this study, we investigate the potential benefits of using nanoporous reduced graphene oxide (rGO) technology in DBS, by implanting a flexible high-density array of rGO microelectrodes (25 µm diameter) in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) of healthy and hemi-parkinsonian rats. We demonstrate that these microelectrodes record action potentials with a high signal-to-noise ratio, allowing the precise localization of the STN and the tracking of multiunit-based Parkinsonian biomarkers. The bidirectional capability to deliver high-density focal stimulation and to record high-fidelity signals unlocks the visualization of local neuromodulation of the multiunit biomarker. These findings demonstrate the potential of bidirectional high-resolution neural interfaces to investigate closed-loop DBS in preclinical models.
format Article
id doaj-art-d24e32df71fa4bc3b17319df15bee315
institution OA Journals
issn 2041-1723
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-d24e32df71fa4bc3b17319df15bee3152025-08-20T02:10:17ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-03-0116111610.1038/s41467-025-58156-zFlexible graphene-based neurotechnology for high-precision deep brain mapping and neuromodulation in Parkinsonian ratsNicola Ria0Ahmed Eladly1Eduard Masvidal-Codina2Xavi Illa3Anton Guimerà4Kate Hills5Ramon Garcia-Cortadella6Fikret Taygun Duvan7Samuel M. Flaherty8Michal Prokop9Rob. C. Wykes10Kostas Kostarelos11Jose A. Garrido12Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), CSIC and BIST, Campus UABUniversity of Manchester, Center for Nanotechnology in Medicine & Division of NeuroscienceCatalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), CSIC and BIST, Campus UABInstituto de Microelectrónica de Barcelona, IMB-CNM (CSIC), Esfera UAB, BellaterraInstituto de Microelectrónica de Barcelona, IMB-CNM (CSIC), Esfera UAB, BellaterraUniversity of Manchester, Center for Nanotechnology in Medicine & Division of NeuroscienceCatalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), CSIC and BIST, Campus UABCatalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), CSIC and BIST, Campus UABUniversity of Manchester, Center for Nanotechnology in Medicine & Division of NeuroscienceCatalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), CSIC and BIST, Campus UABUniversity of Manchester, Center for Nanotechnology in Medicine & Division of NeuroscienceCatalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), CSIC and BIST, Campus UABCatalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), CSIC and BIST, Campus UABAbstract Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a neuroelectronic therapy for the treatment of a broad range of neurological disorders, including Parkinson’s disease. Current DBS technologies face important limitations, such as large electrode size, invasiveness, and lack of adaptive therapy based on biomarker monitoring. In this study, we investigate the potential benefits of using nanoporous reduced graphene oxide (rGO) technology in DBS, by implanting a flexible high-density array of rGO microelectrodes (25 µm diameter) in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) of healthy and hemi-parkinsonian rats. We demonstrate that these microelectrodes record action potentials with a high signal-to-noise ratio, allowing the precise localization of the STN and the tracking of multiunit-based Parkinsonian biomarkers. The bidirectional capability to deliver high-density focal stimulation and to record high-fidelity signals unlocks the visualization of local neuromodulation of the multiunit biomarker. These findings demonstrate the potential of bidirectional high-resolution neural interfaces to investigate closed-loop DBS in preclinical models.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58156-z
spellingShingle Nicola Ria
Ahmed Eladly
Eduard Masvidal-Codina
Xavi Illa
Anton Guimerà
Kate Hills
Ramon Garcia-Cortadella
Fikret Taygun Duvan
Samuel M. Flaherty
Michal Prokop
Rob. C. Wykes
Kostas Kostarelos
Jose A. Garrido
Flexible graphene-based neurotechnology for high-precision deep brain mapping and neuromodulation in Parkinsonian rats
Nature Communications
title Flexible graphene-based neurotechnology for high-precision deep brain mapping and neuromodulation in Parkinsonian rats
title_full Flexible graphene-based neurotechnology for high-precision deep brain mapping and neuromodulation in Parkinsonian rats
title_fullStr Flexible graphene-based neurotechnology for high-precision deep brain mapping and neuromodulation in Parkinsonian rats
title_full_unstemmed Flexible graphene-based neurotechnology for high-precision deep brain mapping and neuromodulation in Parkinsonian rats
title_short Flexible graphene-based neurotechnology for high-precision deep brain mapping and neuromodulation in Parkinsonian rats
title_sort flexible graphene based neurotechnology for high precision deep brain mapping and neuromodulation in parkinsonian rats
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58156-z
work_keys_str_mv AT nicolaria flexiblegraphenebasedneurotechnologyforhighprecisiondeepbrainmappingandneuromodulationinparkinsonianrats
AT ahmedeladly flexiblegraphenebasedneurotechnologyforhighprecisiondeepbrainmappingandneuromodulationinparkinsonianrats
AT eduardmasvidalcodina flexiblegraphenebasedneurotechnologyforhighprecisiondeepbrainmappingandneuromodulationinparkinsonianrats
AT xaviilla flexiblegraphenebasedneurotechnologyforhighprecisiondeepbrainmappingandneuromodulationinparkinsonianrats
AT antonguimera flexiblegraphenebasedneurotechnologyforhighprecisiondeepbrainmappingandneuromodulationinparkinsonianrats
AT katehills flexiblegraphenebasedneurotechnologyforhighprecisiondeepbrainmappingandneuromodulationinparkinsonianrats
AT ramongarciacortadella flexiblegraphenebasedneurotechnologyforhighprecisiondeepbrainmappingandneuromodulationinparkinsonianrats
AT fikrettaygunduvan flexiblegraphenebasedneurotechnologyforhighprecisiondeepbrainmappingandneuromodulationinparkinsonianrats
AT samuelmflaherty flexiblegraphenebasedneurotechnologyforhighprecisiondeepbrainmappingandneuromodulationinparkinsonianrats
AT michalprokop flexiblegraphenebasedneurotechnologyforhighprecisiondeepbrainmappingandneuromodulationinparkinsonianrats
AT robcwykes flexiblegraphenebasedneurotechnologyforhighprecisiondeepbrainmappingandneuromodulationinparkinsonianrats
AT kostaskostarelos flexiblegraphenebasedneurotechnologyforhighprecisiondeepbrainmappingandneuromodulationinparkinsonianrats
AT joseagarrido flexiblegraphenebasedneurotechnologyforhighprecisiondeepbrainmappingandneuromodulationinparkinsonianrats