This document summarizes a research project studying the use of graphene for neural interfacing. The researchers aim to test whether graphene is a better material than silicon for interacting with neurons. They have set up equipment to culture neurons on graphene samples and take cellular measurements. Their current work involves developing fluidic and temperature control systems to keep the cells alive for testing. Future work will involve measuring how neurons interact with graphene and studying the effects of nanoparticles on those interactions.

1. Electrically Controlling The Environmental
Interactions of Neurons Cultured on Graphene
Samantha M. D’az, Justin Stadlbauer, Dr. Kurtis D. Cantley
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Boise State University
1. Introduction
• Neural interfacing is the environment where the
nervous system in the human body interacts with a
device[1]
• A current problem is that the devices don’t interact
well with the nervous system[1]
• Silicon is the current standard for neural interfacing
⁻ They are extremely rigid
• Graphene is thought to be a better alternative
⁻ Not much research on it in the body
⁻ Research that has been done has
contradicting results[2]
Fig. 1 Fig. 2
⁻ Fig. 1 and 2 show the structures of graphene and
silicon respectively
The project described was supported by Institutional Development
Awards (IDeA) from the National Institute of General Medical
Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Grants
#P20GM103408 and P20GM109095. We also acknowledge support
from The Biomolecular Research Center at Boise State.
7. Acknowledgements
[1] Hatsopoulos NG, Donoghue JP. The Science of Neural Interface
Systems.Annual review of neuroscience. 2009;32:249-266.
doi:10.1146/annurev.neuro.051508.135241.
[2] A.M. Pinto, I.C. Gonçalves, F.D. Magalhães
Graphene-based materials biocompatibility: a review
Colloids Surf B, 111C (2013), pp. 188–202
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2013.05.022
• Our hypothesis is that graphene will be a better
material for neural interfacing than silicon
⁻ We will test this by measuring cellular
properties on graphene samples
• We have been working on the set up for our
experiment
Fig. 3 Fig. 4
⁻ Fig. 3 and 4 show the microscope and cage we
will use to perform all of our experiments. The
cage has anti-vibration measures in place and can
close to help us see the fluorescence of the cells
2. Goals
3. Current Work
• With the increase in ways to keep the cells alive, we
will be able to get more measurements with one set of
cells
• We have been able to show that the fluid and the
pipette tip form an RC circuit
• We will take measurements and eventually measure
cell interactions with graphene samples
• We will test how nanoparticles change how cells and
graphene interact
4. Discussion/Conclusion
5. Future Work
6. References
Delivers new
solution to
reservoir
Takes old
solution out of
reservoir
Fluidic System
Fig. 5 Fig. 6 Fig. 7
• The cells are in a salt solution that is put inside a 3D printed
reservoir (Fig. 5)
• We have two syringe pumps that refresh the solution
⁻ We created a LabVIEW program to control these pumps
(Fig. 6 & 7)
Heating Pad
Fig. 8 Fig. 9 Fig. 10
• In order to keep cells alive they must be kept at 37℃
⁻ We achieve this by attaching a heating pad to the chuck
that the sample sits on (Fig. 8 & 9)
⁻ We have a LabVIEW program that shows the reading
of the heating pad (Fig. 10)
Measurement
Fig. 11
• This is the measurement from an
attempt to patch a cell(Fig. 11)