Bioactive interpenetrating polymer networks for improving the electrode/neural-tissue interface

By Zhong, Cheng; Ke, Dingning; Wang, Lulu; Lu, Yi; Wang, Liping
Published in Electrochemistry Communications NULL 2017

Abstract

Abstract The neural electrode is recognized as a bridge that transduces electrical signals from or into biosignals and is thus used for various experimental and therapeutic purposes. However, a major challenge that still remains is to achieve long-term effective electrical recording and stimulation in vivo. Here, we report an investigation of electrochemically co-deposited poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(styrenesulfonate)/nerve growth factor/dexamethasone phosphate/poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(acrylic acid) interpenetrating polymer networks for improving the electrode/neural-tissue interface. After modification, the electrodes exhibit a substantially higher capacitance and lower electrochemical impedance (reduced by 96%) at 1 kHz as compared to control electrodes. Furthermore, tissue response was evaluated after a 6-week implantation in the cortex of rats. Relative to the control group, the test group show significantly lower immunostaining intensity for glial fibrillary acidic protein and higher intensity for neuronal nuclei at the electrode/neural-tissue interface. All of these characteristics are greatly desired in chronic electrophysiological applications in vivo.

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