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Neural tissue-microelectrode interaction: Brain micromotion, electrical impedance, and flexible microelectrode
Naser Sharafkhani1, Abbas Z Kouzani1, Scott D Adams1
1School of Engineering, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3216, Australia.
Journal of Neuroscience Methods
|October 22, 2021
Summary
Brain microelectrodes cause tissue damage and failure. Strategies like reducing size or using soft materials help, but surface modifications and insertion aids are crucial for longevity and preventing buckling.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Medical Device Technology
Background:
- Microelectrode insertion into the brain causes neural tissue damage and immune responses due to stiffness mismatch and micromotion.
- This damage can lead to microelectrode failure over time, limiting their use in neural recording and stimulation.
- Reducing microelectrode dimensions or using softer materials can mitigate damage but introduces challenges like increased electrical impedance and buckling during insertion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review methods for reducing neural tissue damage caused by microelectrode implantation.
- To address challenges associated with microelectrode design, including electrical impedance and mechanical stability during insertion.
- To provide a guide for selecting strategies to overcome buckling phenomena in flexible microelectrodes.
Main Methods:
- Review of strategies to reduce neural tissue damage, including dimensional reduction and material softening.
- Analysis of surface modification techniques to counteract increased electrical impedance.
- Examination of insertion-aiding approaches for flexible microelectrodes, such as stiffness modification and magnetic assistance.
Main Results:
- Smaller dimensions and softer materials alleviate tissue damage but increase electrical impedance and reduce buckling force.
- Surface modifications can mitigate increased electrical impedance.
- Techniques like bending stiffness modification, length reduction, and magnetic field application aid flexible microelectrode insertion.
Conclusions:
- Minimizing microelectrode dimensions and using compliant materials are key to reducing neural tissue damage.
- Addressing increased electrical impedance via surface modification and managing insertion challenges through mechanical and magnetic aids are critical for microelectrode longevity.
- Understanding the trade-offs of different strategies is essential for successful microelectrode implantation.
