Key points from article :
Brain implants have a variety of uses, from identifying regions responsible for epilepsy to producing brain stimulation.
Researchers developed a method to create and deliver brain implants that are a similar in consistency to the brain itself.
Their delicate consistency cause minimal irritation within the brain and reduce the chances of a foreign body response.
Such implants in a mold would be damaged when you attempt to remove them.
Researchers created molds using sugar, and then once the silicone had solidified, they simply dissolved the molds away.
When the sugar needle is inserted into brain tissue it quickly dissolves away, leaving the silicone in place.
Implants cause a reduced foreign body response when they were tested in rats.
“Our work helps pave the path for a new generation of soft implants that could make brain implants a more viable medical treatment,” - Edward Zhang, co-researcher of the study.
Study by McGill University published in Advanced Materials Technologies.
