Open AccessDesign and Testing of a Bending‐Resistant Transparent Nanocoating for Optoacoustic Cochlear Implants
Author(s) -
Griffo Alessandra,
Liu Yingying,
Mahlberg Riitta,
Alakomi HannaL.,
Johansson LeenaS.,
Milani Roberto
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
chemistryopen
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 29
ISSN - 2191-1363
DOI - 10.1002/open.201900172
Subject(s) - biofouling , quartz crystal microbalance , materials science , bending , coating , composite material , nanotechnology , optoelectronics , chemistry , biochemistry , organic chemistry , adsorption , membrane
A nanosized coating was designed to reduce fouling on the surface of a new type of cochlear implant relying on optoacoustic stimulation. This kind of device imposes novel design principles for antifouling coatings, such as optical transparency and resistance to significant constant bending. To reach this goal we deposited on poly(dimethylsiloxane) a PEO‐based layer with negligible thickness compared to the curvature radius of the cochlea. Its antifouling performance was monitored upon storage by quartz crystal microbalance, and its resistance upon bending was tested by fluorescence microscopy under geometrical constraints similar to those of implantation. The coating displayed excellent antifouling features and good stability, and proved suitable for further testing in real‐environment conditions.