PhD: Nicola Ria

Directors:

Supervisor: ICREA Prof. Jose Antonio Garrido and Group Leader,  Advanced Electronic Materials and Devices Group at ICN2.

Co-supervisor: Dr Eduard Masvidal,  Advanced Electronic Materials and Devices Group at ICN2.

Short Abstract:

This PhD work focuses on the development of a minimally invasive neurotechnology based on high-resolution bidirectional electrodes for the treatment of movement disorders. It addresses key limitations of current neural interfaces, such as poor recording and stimulation performance, invasiveness, and limited long-term stability. To overcome these challenges, reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is used as an electrode material due to its low impedance and high charge injection capacity, integrated into flexible polyimide structures to minimize tissue damage.

This technology was validated for two different applications. In the Parkinson’s rat model, the electrodes enable high-resolution recording and modulation of neural biomarkers. For peripheral applications, the devices were developed for chronic interfacing with the sciatic nerve, demonstrating stable long-term recordings and selective activation of the leg muscle with electrical stimulation, to recover the movement of the legs after a spinal cord injury. Overall, this work presents a scalable approach toward safer and more effective neurotechnology.