New electrode material enables brain monitoring hidden inside the ear
Researchers have developed a carbon nanotube-based hydrogel that can reliably record brain activity from inside the ear canal, potentially creating a new category of discreet wearable neurotechnology. The advance could enable continuous monitoring of infants, elderly patients, and others who cannot tolerate traditional headsets, opening a significant market for brain-computer interfaces and clinical diagnostics.
Originaltitel: Carbon Nanotube Hydrogel Electrodes for High-Fidelity Intra-Aural EEG in Wearable Neurotechnology
Electrical monitoring of brain activity can be performed discreetly and continuously over long periods of time using intra-auricular electroencephalography (intra-auricular EEG), a promising technique suitable for subjects who are difficult to monitor, such as newborns or patients with neurological conditions requiring discreet but long-term neurophysiological assessment. The concept of intra-aural EEG can be realized through the development of systems that include wearable sensors, whose performance critically depends on the development of biocompatible electrode materials that exhibit low impedance and can maintain and provide stable contact between the electrode and the epithelial tissue. Based on our previous work on carbon nanotube (CNT)-based hydrogel composites for intra-aural EEG electrodes, this study focuses on the electrochemical characterization of hydrogels initially prepared from gelatin methacrylate (GelMA)/2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) doped with varying concentrations of CNTs (0–3 wt%). In the present study, the materials obtained in the first stage were evaluated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) under both liquid and dry conditions, supplemented by measurements of hydration capacity. The results show that the composite with 3% CNT content exhibits suitable properties, making the material making the 3 wt% CNT formulation a promising platform for the further development of 3D-printable hydrogel electrodes for intra-aural EEG applications. Equivalent circuit modeling reveals improved ionic and electronic conductivity compared to the undoped hydrogel, attributed to better CNT dispersion and polymer crosslinking. This work provides insights into the structure–property relationships of CNT–hydrogel composites and lays the foundation for the further development of a 3D-printed and in vitro/in vivo validated prototype of intra-aural EEG sensors.