INBRAIN Neuroelectronics an outgrowth of Graphene Flagship, is developing graphene-based brain implants to treat brain disorders.
In Europe, about 165 million people are plagued with neurological or mental illness. It is predicted that one out of three people in Europe is liable to suffer from brain disorders in their lifetime. Every year, almost €800 billion which amounts to 35% of Europe’s total disease burden is spent on the treatment of brain disorders.
INBRAIN is an outgrowth of Graphene Flagship, one of the most prominent European research initiatives, and it is in partnership with the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) and the Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), in Spain.
INBRAIN was founded in 2019, uses technology developed by Graphene Flagship partners ICREA, ICN2, and University of Manchester to create smart devices for patients with brain disorders like epilepsy or Parkinson’s.
The startup’s technology is developed around graphene electrodes which decipher with high fidelity neural signals from the brain then producing smart therapeutic feedback, particularly about each patient’s clinical condition.
Over the years physicians have used arrays to monitor and stimulate brain activities. However, the efficiency of commercially available technologies, established on metals like platinum, reduces drastically when miniaturized.
Current clinically used electrodes are too large and could not accurately record brain activity to detail or stimulate the affected area. In this regard, despite all efforts of neuromodulation to treat various brain disorders, current efforts have been regarded to be largely inefficient, as many cause significant side effects.
How the Technology Works
Graphene’s properties allow electrodes to miniaturize when it is still performing significantly. Graphene-based implants can accommodate more electrodes than the conventional batches, as a result, can do high-resolution stimulation and recording. This eventually leads to the mapping of brain activity with remarkable temporal and spatial resolution, and simultaneously, brain stimulation with tremendous precision.
INBRAIN’S device is smart and has a low-invasive neural interface. It can be used with a large proportion of the cortex without meddling with the normal brain functions, it can be combined in probes to reach deep brain structures. The device is powered by artificial intelligence and makes use of big data. To deliver the best results in personalized neurological therapies, the implants detect specific biomarkers, interpret and modulate brain activity, and trigger adaptive responses.
CEO of INBRAIN Neuroelectronics, Carolina Aguilar, explained that “The high-density bi-directional graphene dots in our brain interfaces collect real-time high-resolution brain signals and identify relevant biomarkers. We link these to symptoms to generate a therapeutic solution. This entire process can be done through machine learning algorithms that eventually make the process automatic, delivering a true neuroelectric therapy free of the side effects associated with the current therapies.
She further stated that “As we collect more securitized and anonymised data, we can create better and smarter algorithms which provides more effective therapeutic solutions.”
The startup’s technology has been validated in in-vivo and in-vitro biocompatibility and toxic tests. The studies it has been successfully used on small animals and further justification will be gotten via tests on large animals to guarantee their safety and their superiority to current solutions using metals.
Project Team Makeup
A team with business acumen and technical expertise has been put together to achieve this aim. It includes Flagship figures Anton Guimera, Jose Garrido, and Kostas Kostarelos, Philips’ neurotechnology experts, Medtronic, and other startups like Michel Decre, Bert Bakker, and neurotech knowledge in business thanks to former Medtronic global director Carolina Anguilar. The team continues to expand with major neuro-engineering experts in Europe. Currently, INBRAIN is working to guarantee the safety of patients and to comply with required pre-clinical work and clinical regulatory discoveries. The startup aims to start its first-in-human studies this year.
