Monolayer, open-mesh, pristine PEDOT:PSS-based conformal brain implants for fully MRI-compatible neural interfaces.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is crucial for studying brain function, cognition, and neurological disorders.
• Integrating electrophysiological recording systems with MRI offers enhanced insights but faces challenges due to electromagnetic (EM) interference from MRI scans.
• Traditional metal-based neural implants are susceptible to heat generation and imaging artifacts in MRI environments, compromising safety and data quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a fully MRI-compatible neural implant that enables real-time, high-resolution investigation of neural activities without compromising patient safety or imaging quality.
• To address the limitations of traditional metal electrodes in MRI settings, specifically heat induction and imaging artifacts.
• To create a novel neural interface that synergistically combines MRI and electrophysiological recording capabilities.

Main Methods:

• Introduction of a monolayer open-mesh pristine PEDOT:PSS neural interface.
• Utilizing the diamagnetic property, low electrical conductivity, and negative magnetic susceptibility of PEDOT:PSS, which mimic human tissue properties.
• Optimizing an open-mesh structure to significantly diminish induced currents from EM energy, thereby enhancing MRI compatibility.
• Conducting simulations and in vivo experiments to evaluate heat generation, imaging artifacts, and electrophysiological recording capabilities (Local Field Potential - LFP).

Main Results:

• The PEDOT:PSS-based open-mesh electrodes demonstrated significantly reduced heat generation in an MRI environment.
• Imaging artifacts were effectively eliminated, confirming improved MRI compatibility.
• Electrophysiological recordings of Local Field Potential (LFP) from the somatosensory cortex were successfully validated in an in vivo experiment.
• The material properties of PEDOT:PSS (diamagnetic, low conductivity, negative magnetic susceptibility) proved advantageous for MRI compatibility.

Conclusions:

• The developed PEDOT:PSS-based open-mesh neural interface is fully MRI-compatible, overcoming limitations of traditional electrodes.
• This technology facilitates detailed, real-time investigation of neural activities and brain functions in high resolution during MRI scans.
• The successful validation of LFP recordings indicates the potential of this implant for future neural diagnostics and research.