The Pre-clinical Safety of Graphene-based Electrodes Implanted on Rat Cerebral Cortex

Gaeun Kim; Hyerin Jeong; Kyungtae Kim; Sangwon Lee; Eunha Baeg; Sungchil Yang; Byoungkwan Kim; Sunggu Yang

doi:10.5607/en25018

The Pre-clinical Safety of Graphene-based Electrodes Implanted on Rat Cerebral Cortex

Gaeun Kim (Co-first Author)
, Hyerin Jeong (Co-first Author)
, Kyungtae Kim (Co-first Author)
, Sangwon Lee
, Eunha Baeg
, Sungchil Yang
, Byoungkwan Kim^*
, Sunggu Yang^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Neuroscience

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

4 Downloads (CityUHK Scholars)

Abstract

Graphene has emerged as a promising nanomaterial for brain-computer interface (BCI) applications due to its excellent electrical properties and biocompatibility. However, its long-term structural compatibility on the cerebral cortex requires further validation. This study assessed both functional compatibility and preservation of neural tissue architecture for graphene/parylene C composite electrodes implanted on the rat cortical surface, in accordance with ISO 10993-6 guideline weekly neurobehavioral assessments and comprehensive histopathological analyses were conducted for four weeks post-implantation. Our results revealed no significant differences in neurobehavioral outcomes between graphenebased and medical-grade silicone implants. Histopathological examination showed no noticeable inflammatory responses, changes in cellular morphology, myelination status, or neuronal degeneration. These findings indicate that graphene electrodes preserve tissue integrity comparable to medical‑grade silicone. Our study supports graphene's potential use in clinical neuroprosthetics and neuromodulation devices.

© Experimental Neurobiology 2025.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	214-223
Number of pages	10
Journal	Experimental Neurobiology
Volume	34
Issue number	5
Online published	23 Sept 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.5607/en25018
Publication status	Published - Oct 2025

Funding

This work was supported by Incheon National University (International Cooperative) for Sunggu Yang.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production

Research Keywords

Graphene
Parylene C
Electrocorticography
Biocompatible materials

Publisher's Copyright Statement

This full text is made available under CC-BY-NC 4.0. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

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10.5607/en25018

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abstract = "Graphene has emerged as a promising nanomaterial for brain-computer interface (BCI) applications due to its excellent electrical properties and biocompatibility. However, its long-term structural compatibility on the cerebral cortex requires further validation. This study assessed both functional compatibility and preservation of neural tissue architecture for graphene/parylene C composite electrodes implanted on the rat cortical surface, in accordance with ISO 10993-6 guideline weekly neurobehavioral assessments and comprehensive histopathological analyses were conducted for four weeks post-implantation. Our results revealed no significant differences in neurobehavioral outcomes between graphenebased and medical-grade silicone implants. Histopathological examination showed no noticeable inflammatory responses, changes in cellular morphology, myelination status, or neuronal degeneration. These findings indicate that graphene electrodes preserve tissue integrity comparable to medical‑grade silicone. Our study supports graphene's potential use in clinical neuroprosthetics and neuromodulation devices. {\textcopyright} Experimental Neurobiology 2025.",

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AU - Kim, Gaeun

AU - Jeong, Hyerin

AU - Kim, Kyungtae

AU - Lee, Sangwon

AU - Baeg, Eunha

AU - Yang, Sungchil

AU - Kim, Byoungkwan

AU - Yang, Sunggu

PY - 2025/10

Y1 - 2025/10

N2 - Graphene has emerged as a promising nanomaterial for brain-computer interface (BCI) applications due to its excellent electrical properties and biocompatibility. However, its long-term structural compatibility on the cerebral cortex requires further validation. This study assessed both functional compatibility and preservation of neural tissue architecture for graphene/parylene C composite electrodes implanted on the rat cortical surface, in accordance with ISO 10993-6 guideline weekly neurobehavioral assessments and comprehensive histopathological analyses were conducted for four weeks post-implantation. Our results revealed no significant differences in neurobehavioral outcomes between graphenebased and medical-grade silicone implants. Histopathological examination showed no noticeable inflammatory responses, changes in cellular morphology, myelination status, or neuronal degeneration. These findings indicate that graphene electrodes preserve tissue integrity comparable to medical‑grade silicone. Our study supports graphene's potential use in clinical neuroprosthetics and neuromodulation devices. © Experimental Neurobiology 2025.

AB - Graphene has emerged as a promising nanomaterial for brain-computer interface (BCI) applications due to its excellent electrical properties and biocompatibility. However, its long-term structural compatibility on the cerebral cortex requires further validation. This study assessed both functional compatibility and preservation of neural tissue architecture for graphene/parylene C composite electrodes implanted on the rat cortical surface, in accordance with ISO 10993-6 guideline weekly neurobehavioral assessments and comprehensive histopathological analyses were conducted for four weeks post-implantation. Our results revealed no significant differences in neurobehavioral outcomes between graphenebased and medical-grade silicone implants. Histopathological examination showed no noticeable inflammatory responses, changes in cellular morphology, myelination status, or neuronal degeneration. These findings indicate that graphene electrodes preserve tissue integrity comparable to medical‑grade silicone. Our study supports graphene's potential use in clinical neuroprosthetics and neuromodulation devices. © Experimental Neurobiology 2025.

KW - Graphene

KW - Parylene C

KW - Electrocorticography

KW - Biocompatible materials

U2 - 10.5607/en25018

DO - 10.5607/en25018

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JO - Experimental Neurobiology

JF - Experimental Neurobiology

IS - 5

ER -

The Pre-clinical Safety of Graphene-based Electrodes Implanted on Rat Cerebral Cortex

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Research Keywords

Publisher's Copyright Statement

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