Fluoropolymer-Based Flexible Neural Prosthetic Electrodes for Reliable Neural Interfacing

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Flexible electronic devices are crucial for neural interfacing.
• Fluoropolymer (FP) films offer chemical resistance but often lack robust adhesion for device fabrication.
• Developing reliable, biocompatible neural interfaces requires materials with excellent durability and low impedance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create an adhesion-metal-free flexible gold electrode array using covalently bound fluoropolymer (FP) films.
• To evaluate the device's chemical resistance, impedance, and charge injection capabilities.
• To assess the device's in vivo performance for recording neural activity.

Main Methods:

• Covalent binding of FP films via plasma treatment and sub-melting point thermal pressing.
• Fabrication of a flexible gold electrode array encapsulated by FP films.
• In vivo evaluation in rats to record epidural epileptiform activity.

Main Results:

• An adhesion-metal-free, flexible gold electrode array was successfully fabricated.
• The device exhibited chemical resistance, lower impedance, and efficient charge injection.
• The device effectively recorded epidural epileptiform activity in vivo.

Conclusions:

• Plasma treatment enables covalent binding of FP films for durable device fabrication.
• The chemically inert FP-encapsulated gold electrode array facilitates reliable neural interfacing.
• This technology is suitable for implantable biosensors and platforms in harsh environments.