Bioaugmented design and functional evaluation of low damage implantable array electrodes

Ling Wang; Chenrui Zhang; Zhiyan Hao; Siqi Yao; Luge Bai; Joaquim Miguel Oliveira; Pan Wang; Kun Zhang; Chen Zhang; Jiankang He; Rui L. Reis; Dichen Li

Bioactive Materials (May 2025)

Bioaugmented design and functional evaluation of low damage implantable array electrodes

Ling Wang,
Chenrui Zhang,
Zhiyan Hao,
Siqi Yao,
Luge Bai,
Joaquim Miguel Oliveira,
Pan Wang,
Kun Zhang,
Chen Zhang,
Jiankang He,
Rui L. Reis,
Dichen Li

Affiliations

Ling Wang: State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing System Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China; State Industry-Education Integration Center for Medical Innovations, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China; Corresponding author. State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing System Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China.
Chenrui Zhang: State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing System Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China; State Industry-Education Integration Center for Medical Innovations, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China
Zhiyan Hao: State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing System Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China; State Industry-Education Integration Center for Medical Innovations, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China; Department of Intelligent Manufacture, Yantai Vocational College, 264670, China
Siqi Yao: State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing System Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China; State Industry-Education Integration Center for Medical Innovations, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China
Luge Bai: State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing System Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China; State Industry-Education Integration Center for Medical Innovations, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China
Joaquim Miguel Oliveira: 3B's Research Group, I3Bs – Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017, Guimarães, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
Pan Wang: Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology and K.K. Leung Brain Research Centre, The Fourth Military 9 Medical University, 710032, Xi'an, China
Kun Zhang: Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
Chen Zhang: Tianjin Medical Devices Quality Supervision and Testing Center, Tianjin, 300384, China
Jiankang He: State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing System Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China; State Industry-Education Integration Center for Medical Innovations, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China
Rui L. Reis: 3B's Research Group, I3Bs – Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017, Guimarães, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
Dichen Li: State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing System Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China; State Industry-Education Integration Center for Medical Innovations, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China; Corresponding author. State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing System Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 47
pp. 18 – 31

Abstract

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Implantable neural electrodes are key components of brain-computer interfaces (BCI), but the mismatch in mechanical and biological properties between electrode materials and brain tissue can lead to foreign body reactions and glial scarring, and subsequently compromise the long-term stability of electrical signal transmission. In this study, we proposed a new concept for the design and bioaugmentation of implantable electrodes (bio-array electrodes) featuring a heterogeneous gradient structure. Different composite polyaniline-gelatin-alginate based conductive hydrogel formulations were developed for electrode surface coating. In addition, the design, materials, and performance of the developed electrode was optimized through a combination of numerical simulations and physio-chemical characterizations. The long-term biological performance of the bio-array electrodes were investigated in vivo using a C57 mouse model. It was found that compared to metal array electrodes, the surface charge of the bio-array electrodes increased by 1.74 times, and the impedance at 1 kHz decreased by 63.17 %, with a doubling of the average capacitance. Long-term animal experiments showed that the bio-array electrodes could consistently record 2.5 times more signals than those of the metal array electrodes, and the signal-to-noise ratio based on action potentials was 2.1 times higher. The study investigated the mechanisms of suppressing the scarring effect by the bioaugmented design, revealing reduces brain damage as a result of the interface biocompatibility between the bio-array electrodes and brain tissue, and confirmed the long-term in vivo stability of the bio-array electrodes.

Published in Bioactive Materials

ISSN: 2452-199X (Online)
Publisher: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
Country of publisher: China
LCC subjects: Technology: Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering: Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials; Science: Biology (General)
Website: https://www.keaipublishing.com/en/journals/bioactive-materials/

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