Researchers at Neuronano Research Center (NRC) recently published an article about applying frozen, gelatin embedded needles to establish a low-friction coating. By introducing a layer of thawing ice onto the gelatin the surface friction decreases, which will mitigate damage caused by the implantation.

One of the many aspects and goals of our research is to reduce and minimize injury and scarring caused by insertion of e.g. DBS electrodes. This publication concludes that this can be further improved by providing an outer coat of ultra-slippery thawing ice. No adverse effects of lowered implant temperature were found, opening the possibility of locking fragile electrode constructions into frozen gelatin, prior to implantation into the brain.

Read the publication here.