Spiral NeuroString: High-Density Soft Bioelectronic Fibers for Multimodal Sensing and Stimulation.

Area of Science:

• Bioelectronic engineering
• Materials science
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Conventional bioelectronic fibers are bulky, rigid, and limited in functionality due to fabrication challenges with 1D structures.
• Existing microfabrication methods are incompatible with curved, thin, and long fiber geometries, hindering component integration.
• There is a need for advanced bioelectronic fibers with high density and multimodal capabilities for in-vivo applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel fabrication approach, "spiral transformation," for creating high-density, multimodal soft bioelectronic fibers.
• To demonstrate the utility of these fibers, termed Spiral NeuroString (S-NeuroString), for various in vivo applications.

Main Methods:

• Developed a "spiral transformation" technique to convert 2D microfabricated films into 1D soft fibers.
• Engineered S-NeuroString with precise control over component positioning (longitudinal, angular, radial).
• Tested S-NeuroString in the gastrointestinal system and brain for sensing, stimulation, and recording.

Main Results:

• Successfully created high-density, multimodal soft bioelectronic fibers (S-NeuroString).
• Demonstrated S-NeuroString's capability for motility mapping, serotonin sensing, and tissue stimulation in the GI tract.
• Showcased S-NeuroString's utility for single-unit recordings in the brain.

Conclusions:

• The spiral transformation approach overcomes limitations of conventional methods for fabricating 1D bioelectronic devices.
• S-NeuroString offers a versatile platform for next-generation multifunctional implantable electronics.
• This technology holds significant promise for advancing both research and clinical applications in bioelectronics.