Open AccessViscoelastic surface electrode arrays to interface with viscoelastic tissues
Author(s) -
Christina M. Tringides,
Nicolas Vachicouras,
Irene de Lázaro,
Hua Wang,
Alix Trouillet,
Bo Ri Seo,
Alberto EloseguiArtola,
Florian Fallegger,
Yuyoung Shin,
Cinzia Casiraghi,
Kostas Kostarelos,
Stéphanie Lacour,
David J. Mooney
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
nature nanotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 14.308
H-Index - 353
eISSN - 1748-3395
pISSN - 1748-3387
DOI - 10.1038/s41565-021-00926-z
Subject(s) - viscoelasticity , materials science , microelectrode , electrode , self healing hydrogels , nanotechnology , electrical conductor , fabrication , composite material , chemistry , medicine , polymer chemistry , alternative medicine , pathology
Living tissues are non-linearly elastic materials that exhibit viscoelasticity and plasticity. Man-made, implantable bioelectronic arrays mainly rely on rigid or elastic encapsulation materials and stiff films of ductile metals that can be manipulated with microscopic precision to offer reliable electrical properties. In this study, we have engineered a surface microelectrode array that replaces the traditional encapsulation and conductive components with viscoelastic materials. Our array overcomes previous limitations in matching the stiffness and relaxation behaviour of soft biological tissues by using hydrogels as the outer layers. We have introduced a hydrogel-based conductor made from an ionically conductive alginate matrix enhanced with carbon nanomaterials, which provide electrical percolation even at low loading fractions. Our combination of conducting and insulating viscoelastic materials, with top-down manufacturing, allows for the fabrication of electrode arrays compatible with standard electrophysiology platforms. Our arrays intimately conform to the convoluted surface of the heart or brain cortex and offer promising bioengineering applications for recording and stimulation.