title: Neural stimulation with a carbon nanotube microelectrode array.
abstract: We present a novel prototype neural interface using vertically aligned multiwalled carbon nanotube (CNT) pillars as microelectrodes. Functionalized hydrophilic CNT microelectrodes offer a high charge injection limit (1-1.6 mC/cm2) without faradic reactions. The first repeated in vitro stimulation of hippocampal neurons with CNT electrodes is demonstrated. These results suggest that CNTs are capable of providing far safer and more efficacious solutions for neural prostheses than previous metal electrode approaches.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA. wangke@stanfordalumni.org
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Harvey A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Fishman
authors.forename: Hongjie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: James S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Harris
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000502:physiology; D008422:Materials Testing; D008839:Microelectrodes; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon