Rethinking the brain pacemaker: How better materials can improve signals

“Managing external noise that affects patients is critical,” said author Baraa Chasib Mezher. “For example, people wearing brain pacemakers may be disturbed by external electric fields such as phone calls or car sounds, as well as various electromagnetic forces present in daily life. It is important to develop new biomaterials for brain pacemaker exit doors that can Efficiently process electrical signals.

In an article published this week in AIP Advances by AIP Publishing, Mezher, an Iraqi doctoral student studying in Iran, and her colleagues in the Laboratory of Nanostructures and Novel Materials at the University of Tabriz created a device for the brain and heart. The organic material of the pacemaker relies on uninterrupted signal transmission for its effectiveness.

“The nanocomposites we developed have excellent mechanical properties and can effectively reduce noise,” Meisel said. “For pacemakers, we are interested in understanding how materials absorb and disperse energy.”

Using a plastic base called polypropylene, the researchers added a specially formulated clay called montmorillonite and varying proportions of graphene, one of the strongest lightweight materials. They created five different materials that could be tested for performance.

The authors performed detailed measurements of the composite’s structure using scanning electron microscopy. Their analysis revealed key features that determine the material’s noise absorption and signal transmission, including the density and distribution of clay and graphene and the size of the pores in the material.

“Research groups are actively investigating ways to improve pacemaker performance, and our team is paying particular attention to the mechanical, thermal and other properties of these materials,” Meisel said.

The authors measured the signal-to-noise ratio and how the material performed under different noise levels. They also tested the effect of material thickness on performance indicators.

“The focus of our ongoing work is not just to identify biocompatible materials for pacemakers; our goal is to improve the connection between the generated signal source and the electrodes,” Messer said. “Our team is also working to further develop biomaterials for use in the body, such as materials that enhance the performance of hearing aids.”