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NIH grant 1R44NS145912-01A1: Advancing High-Density Carbon Fiber Electrode Arrays for Commercial Neurotechnology Applications
Institute: {'code': 'NS', 'abbreviation': 'NINDS', 'name': 'National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke', 'admin_org_id': '12500053', 'admin_funding_url': ''}. PI: Christopher Leroy Frewin. Award: $1693866.
Start: 2026-09-25T00:00:00.
ABSTRACT
The ability to measure and manipulate local brain circuit activity in living, behaving animals is essential to
understanding the complexities of brain function and dysfunction. A novel, penetrating high-density carbon fiber
electrode array composed of flexible, ultrathin conductive carbon microfibers was recently developed under the
BRAIN Initiative to study neural microcircuit dynamics. In contrast to conventional microelectrode arrays, carbon
fiber arrays are exceptionally biocompatible and produce minimal glial scarring resulting in exceptional proximity
of the recording electrodes to neurons for unprecedented single-unit recording yield with improved electrode
stability, high signal-to-noise recording, and high charge injection capacity (CIC) for superior stimulation. In
addition, these arrays can be used to measure neurotransmitter or other biological compounds using fast-scan
cyclic voltammetry (FSCV). Led by Spike Neuro, a developer of microelectrode arrays, the goal of this Direct-to-
Phase II SBIR is to translate the novel laboratory fabricated high-density carbon fiber array (C-CFA) by the
Chestek lab at the University of Michigan to a state-of-the-art commercial product (SN-CFA) to enable broad
dissemination of this powerful and versatile neurotechnology across the neuroscience community. Aim 1:
Microfabrication and assembly of the SN-CFA will dramatically improve the microfabrication process for the
silicon support shuttles of the carbon fibers in the SN-CFA by removing occupationally hazardous materials from
the fabrication scheme and adopting a modern silicon-on-insulator wafer fabrication process to improve
manufacturing safety, efficiency, and reliability. Array assembly and fabrication will occur under Spike Neuro’s
Quality Management System. Aim 2: Performance Validation and Design Transfer in QMS will assess the
optimized SN-CFA electrical characteristics, robustness, stability, and longevity through in-vitro electrical,
electrochemical testing, accelerated aging, and visual inspection. Analyses will be cross-validated against the
C-CFA. The validated geometry, fabrication, and assembly processes will be transferred to Spike Neuro
manufacturing operations to enable robust and reproducible production. Aim 3. In-vivo chronic performance
validation of the SN-CFA will cross-validate the SN-CFA against the C-CFA in a 6-month in-vivo study in rat
cortex to assess insertability and chronic performance of the devices. The successful outcome of this project will
be the first commercially available SN-CFA with exceptional performance for the study of local neural circuit
dynamics. By addressing this critical, unmet need, the SN-CFA product promises to accelerate basic scientific
discovery of brain dynamics and the development of next-generation therapies.document fetched 2026-10-04 02:43