Researchers in Professor Tom Webster's lab have made a discovery that may help improve the acceptance of probes implanted in the brain for diagnosis and treatment: carbon nanofibers are surprisingly compatible with human tissue.

Knowing that carbon nanofibers have electrical and mechanical properties that might make the suitable for prostheses, the researchers tested composites of 60-odd nanometer carbon nanofibers in polycarbonate urethane. These experiments showed that increasing the amount of carbon nanofibers in an implant increased the functions of nerve and bone-forming cells and decreased the function of scar-tissue formation. Neurons cultured on the nanofiber composite developed neurite extensions, which are the first step toward axons, and a sign that the materials could encourage interactions essential to neural probes. The material also had less adhesion to astrocytes, which can impede neural function by producing scar tissue.

The next step in exploring the use of the material for establishing electrical connection with neural tissue is animal studies. According to Webster, "A lot needs to be done to achieve these final results. The in vitro environment is quite different from the in vivo environment." He estimates that it will be one to two decades before neural applications of nanofiber materials will be practical.

Additional information of Professor Webster's research can be found in Betterhumans (www.betterhumans.com), Technology Research News (www.trnmag.com), and Nanotechweb.org.