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Environmental Dynamic Mechanical Analysis to Predict the Softening Behavior of Neural Implants
Published on: March 1, 2019
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Stable softening bioelectronics: A paradigm for chronically viable ester-free neural interfaces such as spinal cord
Aldo Garcia-Sandoval1, Edgar Guerrero2, Seyed Mahmoud Hosseini3
1Department of Bioengineering, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W. Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA.
Biomaterials
|August 22, 2021
Summary
New ester-free bioelectronic materials offer stable, tough performance for chronic implants. These modulus-changing polymers provide adaptable support, paving the way for future bioelectronic medicines.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Neurotechnology
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Bioelectronic devices require materials with stable mechanical and chemical properties for chronic implantation.
- Previous modulus-changing materials faced challenges in demonstrating predictable long-term performance in vivo.
- Ester-free polymer networks offer a novel approach to address these limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the acute and chronic mechanical and chemical properties of new ester-free bioelectronic substrates.
- To assess the cytotoxicity of these novel materials.
- To fabricate and evaluate spinal cord stimulation leads using these substrates for potential chronic implantation.
Main Methods:
- Accelerated aging at elevated temperatures to simulate chronic conditions.
- Mechanical and chemical property characterization.
- Cytotoxicity assessment.
- Fabrication of spinal cord stimulation leads with gold traces and titanium nitride electrodes on ester-free substrates.
- In vitro electrochemical testing and in vivo implantation in rat models.
Main Results:
- Ester-free polymer substrates demonstrated preserved toughness at chronic timepoints.
- The materials exhibited modulus-changing properties: rigid during implantation, soft acutely, and stabilizing chronically.
- Spinal cord stimulation leads fabricated on these substrates showed promising in vivo stimulation capabilities.
- Preliminary data indicated good mechanical and chemical stability over time.
Conclusions:
- Ester-free, modulus-changing bioelectronic materials offer a viable solution for chronic implant components.
- These materials maintain toughness and stability, addressing previous limitations in bioelectronic device design.
- This new generation of bioelectronics holds promise for developing stable, scalable, and chronically viable components for future bioelectronic medicines.
