Soft, Implantable Bioelectronic Interfaces for Translational Research.

Area of Science:

• Bioelectronic Interfaces
• Materials Science
• Neurotechnology

Background:

• Translating lab-based bioelectronic innovations to clinical applications requires advances in materials, manufacturing, and design.
• Developing precise communication with biological tissue, especially the nervous system, is crucial for new therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and apply a translational framework for accelerating the deployment of microfabricated bioelectronic interfaces.
• To develop and validate a soft neurotechnology, the electronic dura mater (e-dura), for epidural spinal cord neuromodulation.

Main Methods:

• A high-yield silicone-on-silicon wafer process was developed for reproducible electrode fabrication.
• A biomimetic multimodal platform was created to simulate surgical insertion, physiological movement, and therapeutic use for in vitro validation.
• The e-dura system was evaluated in nonhuman primates for epidural spinal cord neuromodulation.

Main Results:

• The developed framework successfully accelerated the deployment of microfabricated interfaces.
• Epidural spinal cord neuromodulation using e-dura demonstrated high precision in activating selective upper limb muscle groups in primates.
• The technology exhibited stable performance over a 6-week in vivo evaluation period.

Conclusions:

• The proposed translational framework, encompassing design, fabrication, and biomimetic validation, is broadly applicable to bioelectronic devices.
• The electronic dura mater (e-dura) shows significant potential for precise neuromodulation therapies.
• This work addresses critical needs in the development of advanced bioelectronic designs and medical technologies.