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Syringe-injectable Mesh Electronics for Stable Chronic Rodent Electrophysiology
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Highly scalable multichannel mesh electronics for stable chronic brain electrophysiology
Tian-Ming Fu1, Guosong Hong1, Robert D Viveros2
1Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138.
Summary
Researchers developed scalable, flexible mesh electronics for brain implants, enabling stable, long-term neural recordings. This advance promises better tracking of brain circuits in neurological studies.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical Engineering
- Materials Science
Background:
- Implantable electrical probes are crucial for neuroscience and brain-machine interfaces but face limitations in scale and long-term stability.
- Silicon probes offer high-density recording but cause immune responses (gliosis) and instability due to mechanical mismatch with brain tissue.
- Ultraflexible mesh electronics show promise for stable, low-immune response monitoring but are currently limited in channel count.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a scalable and flexible mesh electronics probe system for high-density, long-term neural recordings.
- To overcome the limitations of existing implantable probes by combining scalability with brain-like mechanical properties.
- To enable stable tracking of neural circuit evolution over extended periods for studying brain function and disease.
Main Methods:
- Developed a scalable scheme for highly multiplexed mesh electronics probes, increasing channel count from 16 to 32-128 per probe.
- Maintained crucial brain-like structure and mechanics in the mesh electronics design.
- Utilized multisite injection of the mesh probes for recording in awake restrained and freely behaving mice.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated stable 128-channel local field potential and single-unit recordings from multiple brain regions in mice over 4 months.
- Validated the long-term stability of chronic recordings in freely behaving mice using the integrated mesh electronics.
- Achieved high-density neural recording with minimal immune response and mechanical instability.
Conclusions:
- The scalable mesh electronics probe represents significant progress toward ideal implantable devices for neuroscience research.
- This technology allows for stable, long-term mapping and tracking of single-neuron level circuit changes.
- Potential applications include studying neural dynamics in learning, aging, and neurodegenerative diseases.
