Scientists Grow Electronics Inside the Brains of Living Mice

Purdue University scientists have developed a technique to grow soft, flexible electrodes directly inside living mouse brains using the brain's own blood chemistry. A monomer called BDF, activated by hemoglobin in red blood cells, assembles into a conductive mesh that wraps around neurons at the injection site. The resulting electrode responds to near-infrared light pulses from outside the skull, allowing researchers to modulate brain activity without physical cables. In tests, mice with motor cortex electrodes showed no signs of infection or inflammation, and light-induced inhibition of dendrite activity temporarily suppressed learned behavior without erasing memory. The approach could offer a less invasive alternative to rigid implants for conditions like epilepsy and Parkinson's disease, though long-term safety and durability remain to be established.