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Rolled-up mesh electrodes recorded activity in a rat’s brain after researchers temporarily froze the ultra-flexible probes so they could be inserted. The five-week experiment showed tissue integration, not proof that the devices prevent scarring: the longer-term evidence cited for consistent signals came from unpublished work. The electrodes were experimental, and they have not been shown to work in people.
How the rolled-up electrodes work
Charles Lieber and colleagues built the experimental probes from metal interconnects encased in a mesh of SU-8, a photosensitive epoxy. Using planar lithography, they engineered strain into the polymer. When they etched away a sacrificial nickel layer beneath the mesh, the released structure curled into a tight hollow cylinder, with sensors on its outside.
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The cylinder’s flexibility was central to the design. Chemistry World’s 2015 account described the inserted arrays as up to seven orders of magnitude less stiff than conventional probes. That figure is the report’s comparison, not a measure of clinical performance or proof that tissue damage is eliminated.
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →How the probes were inserted and tested
Freezing made a flexible probe insertable
A mesh this soft could not simply be pushed into brain tissue in its relaxed state. The team froze the curled probes with liquid nitrogen to make them temporarily rigid. They inserted them into the barrel cortex of an anesthetized rat; the probes then melted in place and softened.
#1 Best Overall
- The C29 model shows a rat brain in approximate 6-fold enlargement
- Sectioned medially, it can be disassembled into two halves
- The right half of the model shows the structures of the cerebrum, cerebellum and brain stem, each of which is color-coded for didactic purposes
- The left half of the model is largely transparent, thus revealing a view of the colored left lateral ventricle and hippocampus, which can also be seen in the median section
- Measures 5.5" x 3.9" x 6.3"
Whisker stimulation tested whether the sensors could record
The researchers stimulated one of the rat’s whiskers and used the electrodes to identify activity in the corresponding region of the barrel cortex. This demonstrated neural recording in an animal model. It was not a human trial or a treatment.
What the five-week experiment established
The probes remained in the rat for five weeks. Chemistry World reported that they became well integrated with tissue and that neurons grew into the hollow cores. Those findings support the idea that a soft, open mesh can integrate with surrounding brain tissue in this experiment; they do not establish that the probe caused no scarring.
Rank #2
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Why “without scarring” needs qualification
The report attributed a stronger, longer-term observation to unpublished further work by Lieber: consistent signals from the same neuron over longer periods. Lieber interpreted that continuity as evidence that scar tissue was not forming around the probes in a way that interfered with neurons. Because this was described as unpublished work, it should not be treated as a published demonstration that the probes prevent scarring. Signal continuity is also not the same as proving the absence of all tissue response.
The main limitation: few sensors produced useful signals
Neuroscientist György Buzsáki noted that most of the 13 sensors discussed in the report did not produce a useful signal because they were not close enough to a neuron. As a result, only a very small number of neurons were monitored. Flexibility and integration were promising engineering results, but the reported recording yield was limited.
Rank #3
- CLEAR STRUCTURES BUILD CONFIDENCE: This detailed anatomy model presents life size lobes, gyri, and internal structures with crisp color coding, so students and patients quickly connect terms to locations while you explain complex concepts using brain model anatomy, ideal for lessons, counseling, or thoughtful psychology gifts.
- ENGAGING HANDS ON LEARNING: Two interlocking halves function like interactive brain toys, encouraging learners to separate and reassemble regions as they review functions, turning abstract diagrams into a tactile experience that feels like a gentle brain mold and a satisfying brain puzzle for visual and kinesthetic study.
- PROFESSIONAL QUALITY TEACHING AID: This human brain model features durable molded plastic with clearly printed labels that withstand repeated handling in classrooms, clinics, or home study, giving educators a dependable brain anatomy model to reference while discussing memory, emotion, language, and cerebro pathways with any age group.
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Were these electrodes tested in people or made available to buy?
No. The 2015 account describes a research device tested in a rat, not an implant tested in people or a commercially available product. It does not establish human safety, clinical effectiveness, or a route to routine use.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A separate later electrode project
In 2023, EPFL reported on a different deployable cortical electrode array designed to pass through a small opening in the skull and spread over the brain’s surface. That prototype used spiraled arms and an eversion mechanism, with flexible gold electrodes on compliant elastomer; EPFL reported testing it in a mini-pig and said its spin-off Neurosoft Bioelectronics would lead clinical translation.
Rank #4
- Simulate a rat anatomical model, accurately restore the position and morphology of various internal organs in the body of the white mouse, and attach an independent split brain model.
- Digital identification points with corresponding anatomical explanations for each organ number, facilitating classroom reading and experimental teaching annotation.
- Detachable design with detachable internal organs and brain components, providing a visual display of the internal physiological structure of rodents.
- Fixed with a hard base, the model is stable and not easy to tilt, suitable for teaching aids in biology laboratories and animal husbandry/veterinary classrooms in universities.
- PVC environmentally friendly material, color zoning to distinguish muscles and organ tissues, wear-resistant and durable, meets the needs of anatomy training and popularization.
This surface-deploying design is distinct from the 2015 rolled-up mesh probes, which were inserted into brain tissue. The available reporting provides no head-to-head comparison, and the later project does not demonstrate that the 2015 probe is clinically ready or commercially available.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Life Size: Life size human skull and brain model allow you clearly see all the main anatomical structures of the human skull and brain, perfect for patient education or anatomical study.
- 11 Part: The skull model consists of 3 part. The brain model consists of 8 components: sagittal section of brain, cerebral hemisphere, cerebellum and brainstem.
- Numeric Marker: The brain model features a labeled diagram for 32 numeric marker. The skull model includes a labeled diagram for 55 numeric marker.
- Material: Made of robust PVC material. Light-weight, high strength, anti-corrosion, long term service.
Sources and context
- Chemistry World, Tim Wogan, 6 October 2015. The report identifies the underlying study as C. Xie et al., Nature Materials, DOI 10.1038/nmat4427; the study details above are attributed to the report.
- EPFL, Hillary Sanctuary, 11 May 2023, on the separate deployable cortical array.
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