Researchers from the Technical University of Denmark, the University of Copenhagen, and University College London have developed a flexible brain electrode called the microfluidic Axialtrode, or mAxialtrode.
The fiber is less than half a millimeter across. It can record electrical activity, shine light to stimulate nerve cells, and deliver fluids through tiny channels along its length.
In tests with mice, the team recorded activity in both the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus. The researchers also delivered fluids at separate depths, with the delivery points spaced nearly three millimeters apart.
The work was published in Advanced Science. For now, the mAxialtrode is a research tool, not a treatment for people. More testing and regulatory approval would be needed before any clinical use.
