Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
9.16 A brain sensor and an SEM image of electrodes on the sensor. (Adapted
from Kennedy and Bakay [123].)
9.17 A network of single cells over carbon nanotube electrodes with single
neuronal cells over carbon nanotube electrodes marked with white arrows.
Scale bar 80m. (Adapted fromGreenbaum et al. [122].)
lifetime and quality of electronic nerve interface devices. It has a great potential
to build `artificial nerves' or stimulate natural tissue regeneration.
9.5
Nanostructured biomaterial applications for
other tissues and organs
Besides the tissues mentioned above, nanostructured biomaterials may also
provide for better treatments for many other tissues or organs. For instance, it was
reported that superparamagnetic iron nanoparticles under an external magnetic
force embedded into the middle ear epithelia of tympanic membranes or ossicles
of pigs produced ossicular vibrations in the pig's ear similar to the perception of
sound in humans [124]. Thus, magnetic nanoparticles could possibly be
implanted to enhance hearing for artificial ear applications. As another example,
in the vascular system, 20% of vascular stents suffer from restenosis (a narrowing
