Design of Novel Brain-like Materials for Neural Interfacing

In recent years there has been an increased interest in the development of microelecrode arrays for implantation in the brain in the hope of stimulating paralyzed body parts, providing blind people with artificial vision, and allowing disabled people to operate a computer-controlled prosthetic device with their thoughts. Current neural probes have achieved a high spatial resolution and superb ability to record and transduce high quality neural signals. Unfortunately, existing electrode arrays show 40-60% failures within the first year, primarily because of neuronal necrosis around the electrode and encapsulation by scar tissue, which effectively insulates the electrode from the neuronal process and causes signal deterioration. In contrast, for chronic applications in humans, it would be desirable to have electrodes that functions for decades. The objective of this Phase I project is to develop electrically conducting and insulating materials that cause minimal foreign body response when in contact with brain tissue and could be used to fabricate neuronal prosthetic devices for chronic applications. The new materials will be screened in vitro during the Phase I project. Selected materials will then be used in Phase II to fabricate microelectrode prototypes, the performance of which will be tested in vivo.