Stretchable Polymeric Neural Electrode Array: Toward a Reliable Neural Interface
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Stretchable Polymeric Neural Electrode Array: Toward a Reliable Neural Interface Liang Guo1,2 1 Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, 2015 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH 43210, U.S.A.
ABSTRACT Conducting polymers are often employed as coatings on smooth metal electrodes to improve the electrode performance with respect to the signal-to-noise ratio for neural recording, charge-injection capacity for neural stimulation, and inducement of neural growth for electrodetissue integration. However, adhesion of conducting polymer coatings on metal electrodes is poor, making the coating less durable and the electrical property of the electrode less stable. Moreover, conventional conducting polymers have relative low conductance, preventing their direct use as the electrode and lead material; and they are brittle, making it difficult for flexible neural electrodes to incorporate conducting polymer coatings. We have developed a new polypyrrole/polyol-borate composite film with concurrent excellent electrical and mechanical properties. We further developed a method to fabricate a stretchable multielectrode array using this new material as the sole conductor for both electrodes and leads, in contrast with the conventional approach of incorporating conducting polymers only through coating on nonstretchable metal electrodes. The resulting stretchable polymeric multielectrode array (SPMEA) was stretchable up to 23% uniaxial tensile strain with minimal losses in electrical conductivity. Electrochemical testing revealed the SPMEA’s impressive advantage for recording local field neural potentials and for epimysial stimulation of denervated skeletal muscles. As a neural interface engineer, I would also like to compare the compliant neural interfacing technology to other technologies, such as optogenetics, radiogenetics, and even a living neural interface that is currently under development in our lab. INTRODUCTION Neural interfaces have a critical role in numerous neuroscience investigations and neural prostheses. The ability to effectively and reliably communicate bi-directionally between an engineering system and the human nervous system represents a grand challenge in neural engineering. While a range of existing neural interfacing solutions are advancing, new transformative technologies are actively being sought particularly as a result of the recent advocacy on brain research and bioelectronic medicines in the USA, Europe and many other countries [1-6]. Nonetheless, electrode-based neural interfaces still dominate the practice for their technical readiness and established efficacy. While actual designs of neural electrodes vary from one application to another, research efforts have been concentrated on a few notable aspects for improvement, including mechanical compliance of the implant to the soft tissue, chemical coherence of the implant materials to the physiological environment, and biocompatibility for electrode-tissue integration. The
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development of stretchabl
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