Nanotechnology Now

Our NanoNews Digest Sponsors
Heifer International



Home > Press > INBRAIN Neuroelectronics raises over €14M to develop smart graphene-based neural implants for personalised therapies in brain disorders

Abstract:
INBRAIN Neuroelectronics, a spin-off company of the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) and ICREA, announces a €14.35M Series A investment, co-led by Asabys Partners and Alta Life Sciences, and joined by Vsquared Ventures (Germany), TruVenturo (Germany) and CDTI (Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation). INBRAIN has the mission to develop intelligent neuroelectronic therapies based on graphene technology for application in patients with epilepsy, Parkinson’s and other brain related disorders.

INBRAIN Neuroelectronics raises over €14M to develop smart graphene-based neural implants for personalised therapies in brain disorders

Barcelona, Spain | Posted on March 26th, 2021

In June 2020, INBRAIN received a first seed investment from a syndicate of investors led by Asabys Partners (through Sabadell-Asabys Health Innovation Investment) and Alta Life Sciences, including the Institut Català de Finances (ICF), Finaves (IESE Business School) and BStartUp. Today the company announces a €14.35M Series A investment, one of the biggest rounds in the Spanish medtech industry, co-led by Asabys Partners and Alta Life Sciences, and joined by Vsquared Ventures, a deep tech focused early-stage venture capitalist based in Munich (Germany), TruVenturo GmbH, Germany’s most successful tech and life science company builders, and CDTI (Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation). The financing round also counts with the follow-on investment from ICF Venture Tech II, investment fund from the ICF.

This investment will allow INBRAIN to bring for the first time this technology, built around an innovative nanoscale graphene electrode, to humans and to consolidate the safety of the material as the potential new standard of care in neurotechnologies.

According to a 2010 study commissioned by the European Brain Council, the cost of brain disorders in Europe alone reaches approximately 800 billion euros a year, with more than one-third of the population affected. Between 25% and 35% of patients having a neuronal disease are refractory to pharmacological treatment and are left without an effective therapy. The high incidence of brain-related diseases worldwide and their huge social cost call for greater investments in basic research in this field, with the aim of developing new and more efficient therapeutic and diagnostic tools.

Existing brain interfaces are based on metals (such as platinum and iridium), with significant restrictions on miniaturization and signal resolution, and therefore responsible for considerable side effects. As a consequence, there is a 50% rejection rate in candidate patients. INBRAIN Neuroelectronics’ disruptive technology, based on the novel material graphene, will overcome the current limitations of metal-based neural interfaces.

INBRAIN Neuroelectronics is bringing a complete technological transformation to the treatment of neurological diseases. Its brain implantable intelligent systems are based on graphene electrodes, which allow miniaturization to nanoscale fabrication, with the potential to reach single-neuron resolution. The extraordinary properties of graphene ̶ which is light, biocompatible, flexible and extremely conductive ̶ are harnessed in much smaller devices that are safer to implant and can be programmed, upgraded and recharged wirelessly.

Driven by artificial intelligence, the implant can learn from the brain of the specific patient and trigger adaptive responses to deliver a personalised neurological therapy. In addition, the use of Big Data Management will permit remote monitoring of the device and data processing. The technology has already been validated in in-vitro and in-vivo, biocompatibility and toxicity tests have been successful. Studies on large animals have been completed and the investment will be dedicated to bring the technology to human patients, in collaboration with key neurosurgical and neurological groups in Europe.

"The success in supporting innovation is multiple," comments Dr Pablo Pomposiello, Head of the ICN2 Business and Innovation Unit. "Most importantly, the capital raised will allow testing in humans of the novel graphene-based technology that one day might alleviate the suffering from neurological disease. But also, the investment validates the vision that public and private sectors can collaborate and accelerate innovation. Finally, it shows that relative small centers like ICN2 can achieve world-class results by sustaining internal, long term investment in promising projects.

INBRAIN is directed by Carolina Aguilar (Former Medtronic Deep Brain Stimulation European and Global Commercialization Director) and was founded, among others, by ICREA Prof. Jose A. Garrido, leader of the ICN2 Advanced Electronic Materials and Devices Group, Prof. Kostas Kostarelos, leader of the ICN2 Nanomedicine Group and Professor and Chair of Nanomedicine at the National Graphene Institute and the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health of the University of Manchester (UK), and Dr Anton Guimerà, a researcher at the Barcelona Institute of Microelectronics (IMB-CNM-CSIC). The technology development team is formed by neurotechnology experts such as Bert Bakker (CTO) and Michel Decre (Technology Advisor & Board Member) from Philips and other European successful neurotechnology startups.

####

For more information, please click here

Contacts:
Virginia Greco
Phone: 622369267
Fax: 08193

Comments: Edifici ICN2 - Campus UAB
Av. de Serragalliners s/n

Copyright © ICN2

If you have a comment, please Contact us.

Issuers of news releases, not 7th Wave, Inc. or Nanotechnology Now, are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.

Bookmark:
Delicious Digg Newsvine Google Yahoo Reddit Magnoliacom Furl Facebook

Related News Press

News and information

Researchers develop artificial building blocks of life March 8th, 2024

How surface roughness influences the adhesion of soft materials: Research team discovers universal mechanism that leads to adhesion hysteresis in soft materials March 8th, 2024

Two-dimensional bimetallic selenium-containing metal-organic frameworks and their calcinated derivatives as electrocatalysts for overall water splitting March 8th, 2024

Curcumin nanoemulsion is tested for treatment of intestinal inflammation: A formulation developed by Brazilian researchers proved effective in tests involving mice March 8th, 2024

2 Dimensional Materials

First human trial shows ‘wonder’ material can be developed safely: A revolutionary nanomaterial with huge potential to tackle multiple global challenges could be developed further without acute risk to human health, research suggests February 16th, 2024

NRL discovers two-dimensional waveguides February 16th, 2024

$900,000 awarded to optimize graphene energy harvesting devices: The WoodNext Foundation's commitment to U of A physicist Paul Thibado will be used to develop sensor systems compatible with six different power sources January 12th, 2024

Graphene/ Graphite

First human trial shows ‘wonder’ material can be developed safely: A revolutionary nanomaterial with huge potential to tackle multiple global challenges could be developed further without acute risk to human health, research suggests February 16th, 2024

NRL discovers two-dimensional waveguides February 16th, 2024

Possible Futures

Two-dimensional bimetallic selenium-containing metal-organic frameworks and their calcinated derivatives as electrocatalysts for overall water splitting March 8th, 2024

Curcumin nanoemulsion is tested for treatment of intestinal inflammation: A formulation developed by Brazilian researchers proved effective in tests involving mice March 8th, 2024

The Access to Advanced Health Institute receives up to $12.7 million to develop novel nanoalum adjuvant formulation for better protection against tuberculosis and pandemic influenza March 8th, 2024

Nanoscale CL thermometry with lanthanide-doped heavy-metal oxide in TEM March 8th, 2024

Investments/IPO's/Splits

Daikin Industries becomes OCSiAl shareholder July 27th, 2021

180 Degree Capital Corp. Reports +14.2% Growth in Q1 2021, $10.60 Net Asset Value Per Share as of March 31, 2021, and Developments From Q2 2021 May 11th, 2021

180 Degree Capital Corp. Issues Second Open Letter to the Board and Shareholders of Enzo Biochem, Inc. March 26th, 2021

180 Degree Capital Corp. Reports +6.7% Growth in Q4 2020, $9.28 Net Asset Value per Share as of December 31, 2020, and Developments from Q1 2021 Including Expected Investment in a Planned SPAC Sponsor February 22nd, 2021

Nanomedicine

High-tech 'paint' could spare patients repeated surgeries March 8th, 2024

Researchers develop artificial building blocks of life March 8th, 2024

Curcumin nanoemulsion is tested for treatment of intestinal inflammation: A formulation developed by Brazilian researchers proved effective in tests involving mice March 8th, 2024

The Access to Advanced Health Institute receives up to $12.7 million to develop novel nanoalum adjuvant formulation for better protection against tuberculosis and pandemic influenza March 8th, 2024

Discoveries

What heat can tell us about battery chemistry: using the Peltier effect to study lithium-ion cells March 8th, 2024

Researchers’ approach may protect quantum computers from attacks March 8th, 2024

High-tech 'paint' could spare patients repeated surgeries March 8th, 2024

Nanoscale CL thermometry with lanthanide-doped heavy-metal oxide in TEM March 8th, 2024

Announcements

What heat can tell us about battery chemistry: using the Peltier effect to study lithium-ion cells March 8th, 2024

Curcumin nanoemulsion is tested for treatment of intestinal inflammation: A formulation developed by Brazilian researchers proved effective in tests involving mice March 8th, 2024

The Access to Advanced Health Institute receives up to $12.7 million to develop novel nanoalum adjuvant formulation for better protection against tuberculosis and pandemic influenza March 8th, 2024

Nanoscale CL thermometry with lanthanide-doped heavy-metal oxide in TEM March 8th, 2024

NanoNews-Digest
The latest news from around the world, FREE




  Premium Products
NanoNews-Custom
Only the news you want to read!
 Learn More
NanoStrategies
Full-service, expert consulting
 Learn More











ASP
Nanotechnology Now Featured Books




NNN

The Hunger Project