CONE Centre for Organic and Nanohybrid Electronics

We are pleased to announce a new CONE grant awarded in the M-ERA.NET competition. The project BIONAFE: Bio-derived functional materials based on nanocarbon for next-generation bioelectronic devices will be carried out in collaboration with University Grenoble Alpes and Koç Holding A.Ş.

The BIONAFE project aims to develop a new type of flexible biomedical electrodes as an alternative to currently used metallic electrodes. This will be achieved by utilizing self-supporting carbon nanotube films modified with a biologically active conductive hydrogel layer, which will act as a barrier limiting the immune system's access to the electrode. To further enhance the biocompatibility of the electrodes, their surface will be coated with a bioactive layer composed of bio-derived molecules and macromolecules, including carbohydrate derivatives, polysaccharides, and protein-based biopolymers. These materials will be modified before deposition to ensure optimal integration with both the electrode surface and biological tissues, creating a microenvironment that mimics tissue structure.

We anticipate that the developed non-metallic, bioactive, highly conductive, and flexible electrodes will be used in next-generation bioelectronic devices, overcoming the limitations of conventional metal electrodes. Thanks to improved tissue-electrode integration and a reduced risk of inflammation, these electrodes have the potential to revolutionize the field of bioelectronics.