Innovating carbon-based electrodes for direct neurochemical detection along the brain-immune axis

The use of carbon-based electrodes for direct neurochemical detection along the brain-immune axis is emerging as a promising frontier. Carbon is commonly chosen as an electrode material due to its numerous advantages, including cost-effectiveness, high electrical conductivity, excellent chemical stability, wide electrochemical window, and biocompatibility. To further enhance performance, carbon fibers have been coated with nanomaterials including carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene, carbon nanospikes, among others. Traditional carbon electrodes—typically constructed from carbon fibers—are limited by their heterogeneity, which restricts their adaptability. Recent advancements have moved toward developing highly sensitive and selective carbon materials through customization. The current research is increasingly focused on developing alternative materials to replace carbon fibers, with the aim of preventing coating degradation, improving sensitivity, achieving frequency-independent properties, and lowering detection limits. This current opinion discusses the key innovations in modern carbon-based materials for brain-immune studies, with an emphasis on the importance of tailoring surfaces for specific analytes and applications.