Improved materials for interfacing neural tissue with electronic biomedical devices
by noreply@blogger.com (brian wang) from NextBigFuture.com on (#2GG75)
Modern electronic biomedical devices are enabling a wide range of sophisticated health interventions, from seizure detection and Parkinson's disease therapy to functional artificial limbs, cochlear implants and smart contact lenses.
An effective direct interfacing material is essential to communication between these devices and neural tissue, which includes nerves and the brain.
In recent years, a conjugated polymer known as PEDOT - widely used in applications such as energy conversion and storage, organic light-emitting diodes, electrochemical transistors, and sensing - has been investigated for its potential to serve as this interface.
In some cases, however, the low mechanical stability and relatively limited adhesion of conjugated polymers like PEDOT - short for poly (3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) - on solid substrates can limit the lifetime and performance of these devices. Mechanical failure might also leave behind undesirable residue in the tissue.
A research team led by the University of Delaware's David Martin has reported the development of an electrografting approach to significantly enhance PEDOT adhesion on solid substrates.
Schematic representation of the adhesion-promoting layer.
Science Advances - Enhanced PEDOT adhesion on solid substrates with electrografted P(EDOT-NH2)
Read more
An effective direct interfacing material is essential to communication between these devices and neural tissue, which includes nerves and the brain.
In recent years, a conjugated polymer known as PEDOT - widely used in applications such as energy conversion and storage, organic light-emitting diodes, electrochemical transistors, and sensing - has been investigated for its potential to serve as this interface.
In some cases, however, the low mechanical stability and relatively limited adhesion of conjugated polymers like PEDOT - short for poly (3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) - on solid substrates can limit the lifetime and performance of these devices. Mechanical failure might also leave behind undesirable residue in the tissue.
A research team led by the University of Delaware's David Martin has reported the development of an electrografting approach to significantly enhance PEDOT adhesion on solid substrates.
Schematic representation of the adhesion-promoting layer.
Science Advances - Enhanced PEDOT adhesion on solid substrates with electrografted P(EDOT-NH2)
Read more