The University of Jyväskylä, Finland, is developing a graphene-based nanoscale device between nerves and machines to pass signals to a robot hand or damaged muscle. The aim is to develop enabling technology for a robotic prosthesis that can sense touch and heat like an original limb. The Jane and Aatos Erko Foundation has granted funding of €1.4 million for the project.
Researchers at the University of Jyväskylä and Tampere University have received a funding of €1.4 million from the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation for the Graphene-based Nerve-Machine Interface – GINII project. The project will develop a graphene-based device for two-way communication between nerves and machines.
“Replacing lost limbs with robotic prostheses was science fiction for a long time,” says project leader, Professor Mika Pettersson from the University of Jyväskylä, “but with the development of science and technology, it is now becoming possible. The key to this development is the interface device, which reads the signals from the nerves and forwards them to the prosthesis, and vice versa.”
Graphene: the wonder material
Such devices do already exist, but they are rather clumsy, bulky and consist of hard materials that are rejected by tissues. A potential solution to this problem is the nanomaterial graphene, which is a one-atom thick carbon film.
“Graphene is a very thin material,” explains Petterson. “It is made from a single atom layer of carbon, which is also biocompatible. It is super lightweight, super conductive and super strong. Graphene’s outstanding properties include electrical and thermal conductivity, transparency and mechanical resistance. Compared to steel, it has 200 times the tensile strength, making it a suitable material for nanomechanical applications.”
New technologies improve quality of life and create new business
The project combines nanoscience and neuroscience. The aim is to solve a major problem in the current technology in the use of devices with soft tissues, such as nerve cells or the brain.
“Via this initiative, Finland has an excellent opportunity to become a significant international player in this field,” says Petterson. “In addition to the tremendous long-term prospects for improving human lives, this project also develops novel technology that will create new industries.”
The project is a collaboration between the Department of Chemistry at the University of Jyväskylä and the Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology at Tampere University. The project will start on 1 August 2025.
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