The start-up project of the students of the Faculty of Biology of SSU solves the problem of import substitution of expensive elements for EEG in animals
Recall that Saratov University participates in the federal program "Startup as a diploma". This year, as part of this program, students, together with their academic supervisors, will present 8 startup projects as graduation papers.
Arina Evsyukova, Valeria Telnova and Anna Tsven, students of the Faculty of Biology, are working on the startup project "EEG electrodes for small Animals" under the guidance of O.V. Semyachkina-Glushkovskaya, Head of the Department of Human and Animal Physiology.
Electroencephalography, abbreviated EEG, is a non–invasive method of studying the functional state of the human or animal brain by recording its bioelectric activity using special sensors. According to Oksana Valeryevna, this method is one of the key ones for understanding new phenomena of drainage processes occurring in the human brain, which are activated during deep sleep. In addition, EEG is widely used to study the mechanisms of many brain diseases in both humans and animals.
In order to understand how the human brain works, and most importantly, to be able to assess its functional state during sleep disorders, brain and spinal cord injuries, epileptic and ischemic phenomena, psychoemotional disorders and other pathologies of the central nervous system, experiments are necessary. They are carried out on small animals, in this case on rodents.
Screws are placed on the head of laboratory rats or mice. They are fixed to the skull under anesthesia, and then the animals, as after any other surgical intervention, undergo rehabilitation and return to normal life. According to Oksana Valeryevna, the installed electrodes do not interfere with rodents' full-fledged life, they are also active, eat, engage in their activities and even reproduce. She stressed that neither during the experiment nor after it, the brain structure is damaged, therefore, for mice and rats, the study is safe, and in general this is the most common way to measure the electroencephalographic potentials of the brain of both humans and small animals.
However, we note that the electrodes that are installed on the rodent's head are disposable, and 4 pieces are required per animal. They are stainless steel screws with flexible conductors of silver-plated wire soldered to them.
For the most reliable results, 8-10 animals are used in the experiment. Accordingly, 32-40 screws are needed for one experiment. Consumables are produced by foreign companies, and taking into account modern realities – high purchase and transportation prices – a completely natural problem has appeared that can be solved with the help of import substitution. The startup project of female students is aimed at import substitution and reducing the cost of the experiment.
It is important to note that modern research in the field of experimental physiology requires the use of EEG in conjunction with other technologies. This allows us to improve the quality of the results, and scientists will have the opportunity to simultaneously perform several unique operations.
However, the technology of sharing EEG electrodes and other technologies requires modernization. So, for normal functioning, it is necessary to develop a wireless interface in order to capture EEG signals in any conditions, including those dictated by experiment, for example, the peculiarities of the location of an animal under a microscope. In addition, this will reduce the stress that the animal experiences during manipulation.
"The proposed project of import substitution of screws for telemetric EEG has great prospects in the Russian market of scientific technologies. We can say that the project will untie the hands of Russian scientists, and they will be able to conduct research on brain functions using EEG at an affordable price – only 100 rubles instead of 40 dollars for one set of screws – and with quality not inferior to foreign analogues," explained O.V. Semyachkina–Glushkovskaya, head of the Department of Human and Animal Physiology, scientific the project manager.
It should be noted that the federal program "Startup as a diploma" is aimed at finding and involving talented students in the development of the ecosystem of technological entrepreneurship, as well as supporting businesses at an early stage. The development and implementation of a training program for university applicants and teachers in the preparation of startups as a final qualification work is provided by the Digital Economy program.
Aelita Ponomaryova, Photos by Victoria Victorova
Translated by Lyudmila Yefremova
