Made with material extracted from agar algae, the device can be used to monitor stimuli produced in the brain or muscles or as an auxiliary interface in the human-computer connection in assistance or rehabilitation technologies
Dr. Eric Fujiwara, Unicamp
Electrical signals command a huge set of activities in the human body, from the exchange of messages between neurons in the brain to the stimulation of the heart muscle and the impulses that allow moving hands and feet, for example. Having as application horizon the monitoring or modulation of these signals, for medical purposes, a biocompatible and biodegradable optical fiber, produced from agar algae, has just been developed.
by the Research Support Foundation of the State of São Paulo ( FAPESP ), the work was led by teachers , from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the State University of Campinas ( unicamp , from the Gleb Wataghin Institute of Physics at Unicamp, and Dr. Hiromasa Oku , from the gunma university , in Japan. The results of the study were published in the journal Scientific Reports
“Biocompatible devices are essential when using optical fibers for medical applications, such as monitoring vital parameters, phototherapy or optogenetics [the term refers to the study and control of the activity of specific cells through techniques that combine optics, genetics and bioengineering], among others. In addition, optical fibers made with biodegradable materials are alternatives to the technologies available for telecommunications, which employ glass or plastic fibers”, explained Dr. Eric Fujiwara.
The new fiber was produced from agar, a transparent, flexible, edible and renewable material, extracted from red algae. The same researchers had already developed biocompatible agar optical fibers for monitoring chemical concentration and humidity.
“The manufacturing method basically consists of filling cylindrical molds with agar solutions. The current work expands the range of applications, proposing a new type of optical sensor that exploits the electrical conductivity of the agar”, said Professor Eric.
The researcher explained that, excited by coherent light, the fiber produces granular light patterns that evolve spatially and temporally. The electrical currents present in the medium cross the fiber and, in doing so, modulate the refractive index of the agar, generating disturbances in the granular patterns. “By analyzing these disturbances, it is possible to determine the magnitude, direction and direction of the electrical stimuli, with reliable measurements for currents equal to or even lower than 100 microamperes [μA]”, he said.
The ability to detect such subtle electrical signals inspires potential applications in biomedical settings. “The idea can be exploited to develop sensing systems aimed at monitoring bioelectric stimuli produced in the brain or muscles, serving as a biodegradable alternative to conventional electrodes. In that case, optical signals can be decoded to diagnose disturbances. Another possibility is to use fiber as an auxiliary interface in the connection between human and computer, in assistance or rehabilitation technologies”, exemplified Professor Eric Fujiwara.
Sensor response can be improved by adjusting the chemical composition of the material. And the fact that agar can be molded into different geometries makes it possible to manufacture lenses and other optical devices that are sensitive to electric current. More than anything, the great advantage is that, after use, the fiber can be absorbed by the body, avoiding additional surgical interventions.
Dr. Eric Fujiwara pointed out that the study is still at the bench level – therefore, far from technological application. But rigorous determination of the physical parameters of optical response to electrical current lays solid ground for the eventual fabrication of biomedical devices.
Access the full scientific article (in English).
Access the full news on the page of FAPESP Agency
Source: José Tadeu Arantes, FAPESP Agency. Image: material extracted from red algae is transparent, flexible, edible and renewable. Source: Dr. Eric Fujiwara, Unicamp.
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