Miniature fibres developed to communicate data to and from the brain

Researchers have developed miniaturised flexible fibres with the capability to deliver a range of signals to and from the brain.

A team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have created a single flexible fibre around the size of a human hair that can be used to deliver a combination of optical, electrical and chemical signals to the brain.

The fibres are designed to mimic the softness and flexibility of brain tissue and measure just 200 micrometres across, making it possible to leave implants in place and have them retain their functions over much longer periods than is possible with stiff, metallic fibres.

They are made using conductive polyethylene doped with graphite flakes, with the polyethylene formed into layers and sprinkled with graphite, before being compressed and having more layers added. This method increased the conductivity of the polymer by a factor of four or five.

Seongjun Park, an MIT graduate student who contributed to the research, said: "The next engineering challenge is to use material that is even softer, to really match the adjacent tissue."

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