Concurrent recordings of bladder afferents from multiple nerves using a microfabricated PDMS microchannel electrode...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Recording bladder afferent activity is crucial for understanding bladder function and dysfunction.
• Existing neural interfaces may lack the necessary compliance and multichannel capabilities for optimal bladder afferent signal acquisition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel compliant neural interface for multichannel recording of bladder afferent nerve activity.
• To assess the device's biocompatibility, mechanical stability, and in vivo performance.

Main Methods:

• Microfabrication of a compliant neural interface using silicone rubber and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with an embedded gold microelectrode array.
• Optimization of electrode impedance via reactive ion etching (RIE) and assessment of material stability in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS).
• Acute in vivo implantation in rats, recording from L6 and S1 dorsal roots using a tripole electrode configuration.

Main Results:

• The neural interface demonstrated excellent mechanical compliance, withstanding twisting and bending without electrical failure.
• Electrodes remained stable after 3 months of immersion in PBS at 37 °C.
• The device successfully recorded distinct bladder afferent nerve activities correlated with bladder filling and contraction, achieving a high signal-to-noise ratio.

Conclusions:

• This study presents the first report of a multichannel compliant neural interface capable of recording bladder afferent activity.
• The developed device shows significant promise for advancing research in bladder physiology and urological disorders.
• The interface's design offers a robust and reliable platform for future neural recording applications.