Project is supported by funds of The National Science Centre no. UMO-2020/39/B/ST5/02126

Project title

Hybrid carbon composites for stimulation of cells of the central nervous system

Duration: 2021 – 2025

Aim

The main aim of this project is research on the development of a new generation of carbon-based hybrid composite electrodes for stimulation of nerve cells within the central nervous system (CNS). The hybrid composite materials consisting of carbon fibers (CF) and CVD- derived pyrolytic carbon as a matrix will be used to obtain miniaturized electrodes in the form of rods for in vitro examination. In addition, the electrodes will be covered with a layer composed of carbon nanotubes (CNTs).

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Specific research objectives

  1. Selection of carbon fibers and their characterization
  2. Preparation and characterization of C/C composites
  3. Preparation of carbon hybrid composites and their characterization
  4. In vitro screening tests of hybrid composites using neuroblastoma cells
  5. Surface modification of carbon hybrid composites and their characterization
  6. In vitro study of biological properties of carbon hybrid composites using primary mesencephalic neuronglia cultures

Dissemination of project results

Publications
  1. Fraczek-Szczypta, A.; Kondracka, N.; Zambrzycki, M.; Gubernat, M.; Czaja, P.; Pawlyta, M.; Jelen, P.; Wielowski, R.; Jantas, D. Exploring CVD Method for Synthesizing Carbon–Carbon Composites as Materials to Contact with Nerve Tissue. J. Funct. Biomater. 2023, 14, 443. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb14090443
  2. Wielowski R.; Czaja P.; Piekarczyk W.; Zambrzycki M.; Gubernat M.; Frączek-Szczypta A. Study on heat-treated pyrolytic carbon deposited from methane on directly heated carbon fibres. Diamond and Related Materials 146 (2024) 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diamond.2024.111214
  3. Zambrzycki M., Wielowski R., Gubernat M., Jantas D., Paczosa-Bator B., Fraczek-Szczypta A. The impact of chemical functionalization of carbon nanotubes on the electrochemical performance of carbon fiber/pyrocarbon/carbon nanotube composites as potential materials for electrodes for nerve cell stimulation. Applied Surface Science 670 (2024) 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2024.160713
  4. Zambrzycki M., Wielowski R., Sokołowski K., Gubernat M., Chmielarz P., Maziarz K., Jantas D., Piech R., Fraczek-Szczypta A. Carbon-based composite rod as a potential electrode for stimulation of neural tissue: electrochemical, biological, and stability evaluation. Chemical Engineering Journal 526 (2025) 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2025.171108
ConferenceS
  1. Design and experimental verification of a system for stimulating nervous tissue cells in vitro. A. Frączek-Szczypta, R. Wielowski, M. Głowacki, A. Benko, D. Jantas. Carbon 2025: Saint-Malo, France, June 29th–July 4th– oral presentation.
  2. The pyrolytic carbon and functionalized carbon nanotubes in prospective electrode materials for brain stimulation therapy in neurodegenerative diseases: assessing their durability in simulated conditions. R. Wielowski, M. Zambrzycki, K. Sokołowski, A. Czuk, K. Gryń, M. Gubernat, A. Frączek-Szczypta. Carbon 2025: Saint-Malo, France, June 29th–July 4th – oral presentation.
  3. Evaluation of the functional properties of carbon-carbon composites as potential electrode materials for Deep Brain Stimulation. A. Czuk, R. Wielowski, K. Gryń, A. Frączek-Szczypta. CEBC: 6th Central European Biomedical Congress: Kraków, Poland, July 22–24, 2025   – oral presentation.
  4. Hybrid carbon composites as materials that can stimulate neural tissue: comparison of pyrolytic carbon and functionalized carbon nanotubes in a simulated environment. R. Wielowski, M. Zambrzycki, A. Czuk, A. Benko, P. Chmielarz, K. Maziarz, D. Jantas, A. Frączek-Szczypta. CEBC: 6th Central European Biomedical Congress: Kraków, Poland, July 22–24, 2025  – oral presentation
  5. The effect of hybride carbon composites in mesencephalic cell culture. D. Jantas, P. Chmielarz, K. Maziarz, R. Wielowski, A. Frączek-Szczypta. FENS Regional Meeting 2025, Oslo, Norway, 16-19 June 2025 – poster
  6. Study of the graphitization trajectory of low- and medium-textured pyrolytic carbons under additional heat treatment. Ryszard WIELOWSKI, Paweł Czaja, Wojciech PIEKARCZYK, Maciej GUBERNAT, Aneta FRĄCZEK-SZCZYPTA. TCS 2024: Copernican Revolution in Carbon Science : The 11th Torunian Carbon Symposium: 15-18.09.2024, Toruń, Poland – oral presentation
  7. Nanomateriały węglowe w regeneracji i stymulacji komórek tkanki nerwowej. Ryszard WIELOWSKI, Marcel ZAMBRZYCKI, Danuta JANTAS, Aneta FRĄCZEK-SZCZYPTA. Nano(&)BioMateriały – od teorii do aplikacji, 12-14 czerwca 2024, Toruń – oral presentation
  8. Carbon-carbon composites based on carbon fibers and pyrolytic carbon as a potential electrodes for nerve cells stimulation. Aneta FRĄCZEK-SZCZYPTA, Ryszard WIELOWSKI, Marcel ZAMBRZYCKI, Maciej GUBERNAT, Danuta Jantas. Carbon 2023: The World Conference on Carbon: renewing the world through carbon: July 16th-21st, 2023, Cancun, Mexicö – keynote lecturer
  9. Carbon-carbon composites as potential electrode materials for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases – optimization of their preparation process. Ryszard WIELOWSKI, Marta Kamińska, Marcelina Koziej, Marcel ZAMBRZYCKI, Maciej GUBERNAT, Aneta FRĄCZEK-SZCZYPTA. CESEP 2023: 9th International Conference on Carbon for Energy Storage and Environment Protection: 24-28 September, 2023, Budapest, Hungary – oral presentation
  10. Carbon materials in nerve tissue stimulation and regeneration. Aneta FRĄCZEK-SZCZYPTA, Maciej GUBERNAT, Danuta Jantas. Carbon 2022: Carbon for a Cleaner Future: The World Conference on Carbon: 3–8 July 2022, London. S. [1–2] IS C2022-230,  https://carbon2022.org/ [2022-07-27] – oral presentation
  11. Kompozyty typu węgiel-węgiel jako potencjalne elektrody do stymulacji tkanki nerwowej – otrzymywanie i wstępne wyniki badań. Monika Ptaś, Natalia Kondracka, Ryszard WIELOWSKI, Marcel ZAMBRZYCKI, Danuta Jantas, Maciej GUBERNAT, Aneta FRĄCZEK-SZCZYPTA: Materiały węglowe i kompozyty polimerowe: nauka – przemysł’ 2022: XIV Konferencja Naukowo-Techniczna: 18–21 października 2022, Ustroń–Jaszowiec, e-ISBN: 978-83-63555-63-4. — S. 32 – oral presentation
  12. Carbon-carbon composites in a pyrolytic carbon matrix – optimization of the production process and preliminary assessment of their selected properties. Monika Ptaś, Danuta Jantas, Aneta FRĄCZEK-SZCZYPTA. Biomaterials in Medicine and Veterinary Medicine: 31st Annual Conference: 13–16 October 2022 Rytro, Poland: conference proceedings. — Kraków : Scientific Publishing House „Akapit”, cop. 2022. — ISBN: 978-83-65955-62-3. — S. 120 – poster.
  13. Otrzymywanie włóknistych kompozyty dla potrzeb głębokiej stymulacji mózgu. Monika Ptaś, Natalia Kondracka, Maciej GUBERNAT, Aneta FRĄCZEK-SZCZYPTA. Materiały węglowe i kompozyty polimerowe [Dokument elektroniczny] : nauka – przemysł’ 2021: XIII Konferencja Naukowo-Techniczna: 23-26 listopada 2021, Ustroń–Jaszowiec, e-ISBN: 978-83-63555-62-7. — S. 51 – poster.
WOrkshoPS

IV Warsztaty Naukowe Polskiego Towarzystwa Węglowego pt. „Nowe trendy w nauce o węglu”, 23.06.2023, Nowy Sącz, Polska

TITLE: Optymalizacja procesu otrzymywania kompozytów węgiel-węgiel jako potencjalnych materiałów elektrodowych dla celów leczenia chorób neurodegeneracyjnych, Ryszard WIELOWSKI, Marcel ZAMBRZYCKI, Maciej GUBERNAT, Marta KAMIŃSKA, Marcelina KOZIEJ, Aneta FRĄCZEK-SZCZYPTA.

V Warsztaty Naukowe Polskiego Towarzystwa Węglowego pt. „Nowe trendy w nauce o węglu”, 21.06.2024, Szczecin, Polska

TITLE: Badanie wpływu chemicznej funkcjonalizacji wielościennych nanorurek węglowych na powierzchniową modyfikację włóknistych kompozytów węglowych, Ryszard WIELOWSKI, Marcel ZAMBRZYCKI, Maciej GUBERNAT, Aneta FRĄCZEK-SZCZYPTA.

Udział w SIM Szkoła Inżynierii Materiałowej: Kraków, 7–8 maja 2025, Kraków, Polska

TITLE: Influence of chemical functionalization of carbon nanotubes on the properties of composite electrode materials in the aspect of deep brain stimulation. Ryszard WIELOWSKI, Marcel ZAMBRZYCKI, Aleksandra BENKO, Maciej GUBERNAT, Aneta FRĄCZEK-SZCZYPTA.

Please contact us:

Associated Professor Aneta Fraczek-Szczypta

Email: afraczek@agh.edu.pl

Phone: 0048 12 617 47 38

Av. Mickiewicza 30, building A3, room 228

30-059 Krakow, Poland