Brain-Adhesive Bioelectronics With Shape-Morphable and Biodegradable Properties for Stable Brain Signal Monitoring.

Area of Science:

• Bioelectronics
• Neuroscience
• Materials Science

Background:

• Accurate brain activity monitoring is crucial for neurological disease diagnosis and treatment.
• Conventional electrocorticogram (ECoG) devices pose risks due to non-degradability, requiring removal surgery and causing tissue damage.
• Existing ECoG devices lack conformal adhesion to dynamic brain tissue, leading to signal loss and mechanical mismatch.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel brain-adhesive sensor (B-Sensor) with shape-morphable and biodegradable characteristics.
• To enable stable, temporary ECoG signal monitoring for clinical applications.
• To provide a safer, more effective alternative to conventional ECoG devices.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of the B-Sensor using a polyurethane elastomer with polycarbonate for biodegradability and mechanical properties.
• Incorporation of a tissue-adhesive hydrogel for conformal cortical adhesion.
• Integration of ultrathin molybdenum electrodes in an open-mesh layout for stable performance and MRI compatibility.

Main Results:

• The B-Sensor demonstrated biodegradability, stretchability, stress relaxation, and self-healing capabilities.
• The device ensured conformal adhesion, stable impedance, excellent cell viability, and minimal MRI artifacts.
• In vivo experiments successfully recorded baseline activity, somatosensory evoked potentials, and epileptiform discharges with high precision.

Conclusions:

• The developed B-Sensor is a bioresorbable, tissue-adhesive ECoG platform.
• It enables safe, artifact-free monitoring of normal and pathological brain activity.
• This represents a new design paradigm for next-generation implantable bioelectronics.