The primary goal of this project is to develop a nanometer-scale electrophysiological probe capable of recording the electrical activity both in and around individual neurons in the intact brain. The probe will consist of a single carbon nanotube (CNT) or a small bundle of multiple CNTs, grown from a sharpened tungsten electrode. The device will be coated with Parylene, which will provide electrical insulation as well as structural support for the contact between the tungsten wire and the CNT. This probe will be the smallest passive neural recording electrode ever built, by far, opening doors to many previously impossible experiments and medical applications.
Public abstract This proposal will use nanotechnology to develop more sensitive electrodes for monitoring activity of nerve cells in the brain. This new technology will provide better information about neurological diseases and may lead to better treatment of such diseases.
