Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 18, 2025
08:54
Chronic Implantation of Multiple Flexible Polymer Electrode Arrays
Published on: October 4, 2019
11.2K
Mechanically adaptive implants fabricated with poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-based negative photoresists
Baptiste Monney1, Allison E Hess-Dunning2, Paul Gloth2
1Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland. christoph.weder@unifr.ch.
Journal of Materials Chemistry. B
|June 20, 2020
Summary
Researchers developed new mechanically adaptive polymers (MAPs) for neural implants using photolithography. These MAPs soften in the body, reducing tissue response and improving biocompatibility for safer brain-computer interfaces.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Neurotechnology
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Mechanically adaptive polymers (MAPs) offer reduced chronic tissue response compared to rigid neural implants.
- Limited processability of existing MAPs has hindered their widespread application in neural device fabrication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel negative photoresist approach for creating physiologically responsive MAPs.
- To optimize MAP composition for improved processability and biocompatibility in neural implant applications.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of cross-linked terpolymers using photolithographic processes.
- Characterization of material properties, including storage modulus (E') in dry and physiological states.
- Assessment of implantability in a brain-mimicking gel and biocompatibility using microglial cell viability studies.
Main Results:
- An optimized MAP composition exhibited a significant reduction in storage modulus from 1.8 GPa (dry) to 2 MPa (physiological conditions) due to plasticization.
- Photolithographically fabricated single shank probes demonstrated successful implantation without buckling.
- Microglial cell viability studies confirmed excellent biocompatibility of the developed MAPs.
Conclusions:
- The negative photoresist approach enables the fabrication of physiologically responsive MAPs with tunable mechanical properties.
- These advanced MAPs show great promise for developing next-generation neural implants with reduced tissue response and enhanced biocompatibility.
