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Dong C, Carnicer-Lombarte A, Bonafè F, Huang B, Middya S, Jin A, Tao X, Han S, Bance M, Barone DG, Fraboni B, Malliaras GG. Electrochemically actuated microelectrodes for minimally invasive peripheral nerve interfaces. Nat Mater 2024:10.1038/s41563-024-01886-0. [PMID: 38671159 DOI: 10.1038/s41563-024-01886-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Electrode arrays that interface with peripheral nerves are used in the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders; however, they require complex placement surgeries that carry a high risk of nerve injury. Here we leverage recent advances in soft robotic actuators and flexible electronics to develop highly conformable nerve cuffs that combine electrochemically driven conducting-polymer-based soft actuators with low-impedance microelectrodes. Driven with applied voltages as small as a few hundreds of millivolts, these cuffs allow active grasping or wrapping around delicate nerves. We validate this technology using in vivo rat models, showing that the cuffs form and maintain a self-closing and reliable bioelectronic interface with the sciatic nerve of rats without the use of surgical sutures or glues. This seamless integration of soft electrochemical actuators with neurotechnology offers a path towards minimally invasive intraoperative monitoring of nerve activity and high-quality bioelectronic interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoqun Dong
- Electrical Engineering Division, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Filippo Bonafè
- Electrical Engineering Division, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Botian Huang
- Electrical Engineering Division, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sagnik Middya
- Electrical Engineering Division, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Amy Jin
- Electrical Engineering Division, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Xudong Tao
- Electrical Engineering Division, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sanggil Han
- Electrical Engineering Division, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Nano-Bioengineering, Incheon National University, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Manohar Bance
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Damiano G Barone
- Electrical Engineering Division, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Beatrice Fraboni
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - George G Malliaras
- Electrical Engineering Division, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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Wang Y, Shao B, Song J, Hong W, Guo CF. Mechanical Tester Driven by Surface Tension. Nano Lett 2024; 24:4012-4019. [PMID: 38527220 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c00702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
The measurement of in-plane mechanical properties, such as Young's modulus and strength, of thin and stretchable materials has long been a challenge. Existing measurements, including wrinkle instability and nano indentation, are either indirect or destructive, and are inapplicable to meshes or porous materials, while the conventional tension test fails to measure the mechanical properties of nanoscale films. Here, we report a technique to test thin and stretchable films by loading a thin film afloat via differential surface tension and recording its deformation. We have demonstrated the method by measuring the Young's moduli of homogeneous films of soft materials including polydimethylsiloxane and Ecoflex and verified the results with known values. We further measured the strain distributions of meshes, both isotropic and anisotropic, which were otherwise nearly impossible to measure. The method proposed herein is expected to be generally applicable to many material systems that are thin, stretchable, and water-insoluble.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
- Department of Physics, School of Physics and Materials Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, JiangXi 330031, China
| | - Biqi Shao
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Jia Song
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Wei Hong
- Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Chuan Fei Guo
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
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Dong R, Wang L, Li Z, Jiao J, Wu Y, Feng Z, Wang X, Chen M, Cui C, Lu Y, Jiang X. Stretchable, Self-Rolled, Microfluidic Electronics Enable Conformable Neural Interfaces of Brain and Vagus Neuromodulation. ACS Nano 2024; 18:1702-1713. [PMID: 38165231 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c10028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Implantable neuroelectronic interfaces have gained significant importance in long-term brain-computer interfacing and neuroscience therapy. However, due to the mechanical and geometrical mismatches between the electrode-nerve interfaces, personalized and compatible neural interfaces remain serious issues for peripheral neuromodulation. This study introduces the stretchable and flexible electronics class as a self-rolled neural interface for neurological diagnosis and modulation. These stretchable electronics are made from liquid metal-polymer conductors with a high resolution of 30 μm using microfluidic printing technology. They exhibit high conformability and stretchability (over 600% strain) during body movements and have good biocompatibility during long-term implantation (over 8 weeks). These stretchable electronics offer real-time monitoring of epileptiform activities with excellent conformability to soft brain tissue. The study also develops self-rolled microfluidic electrodes that tightly wind the deforming nerves with minimal constraint (160 μm in diameter). The in vivo signal recording of the vagus and sciatic nerve demonstrates the potential of self-rolled cuff electrodes for sciatic and vagus neural modulation by recording action potential and reducing heart rate. The findings of this study suggest that the robust, easy-to-use self-rolled microfluidic electrodes may provide useful tools for compatible neuroelectronics and neural modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruihua Dong
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Smart Healthcare Engineering, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, No. 1088 Xueyuan Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, P. R. China
- School of Rehabilitation Sciences and Engineering, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, No. 369, Dengyun Road, Gaoxin District, Qingdao, Shandong 266013, P. R. China
| | - Lulu Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen 518055, P. R. China
| | - Zebin Li
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Smart Healthcare Engineering, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, No. 1088 Xueyuan Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, P. R. China
| | - Jincheng Jiao
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210000, P. R. China
| | - Yan Wu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Smart Healthcare Engineering, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, No. 1088 Xueyuan Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, P. R. China
| | - Zhuowei Feng
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Smart Healthcare Engineering, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, No. 1088 Xueyuan Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, P. R. China
| | - Xufang Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen 518055, P. R. China
| | - Minglong Chen
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210000, P. R. China
| | - Chang Cui
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210000, P. R. China
| | - Yi Lu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen 518055, P. R. China
| | - Xingyu Jiang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Smart Healthcare Engineering, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, No. 1088 Xueyuan Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, P. R. China
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Yoo S, Kim M, Choi C, Kim DH, Cha GD. Soft Bioelectronics for Neuroengineering: New Horizons in the Treatment of Brain Tumor and Epilepsy. Adv Healthc Mater 2023:e2303563. [PMID: 38117136 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202303563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Soft bioelectronic technologies for neuroengineering have shown remarkable progress, which include novel soft material technologies and device design strategies. Such technological advances that are initiated from fundamental brain science are applied to clinical neuroscience and provided meaningful promises for significant improvement in the diagnosis efficiency and therapeutic efficacy of various brain diseases recently. System-level integration strategies in consideration of specific disease circumstances can enhance treatment effects further. Here, recent advances in soft implantable bioelectronics for neuroengineering, focusing on materials and device designs optimized for the treatment of intracranial disease environments, are reviewed. Various types of soft bioelectronics for neuroengineering are categorized and exemplified first, and then details for the sensing and stimulating device components are explained. Next, application examples of soft implantable bioelectronics to clinical neuroscience, particularly focusing on the treatment of brain tumor and epilepsy are reviewed. Finally, an ideal system of soft intracranial bioelectronics such as closed-loop-type fully-integrated systems is presented, and the remaining challenges for their clinical translation are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seungwon Yoo
- Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Minjeong Kim
- Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Changsoon Choi
- Center for Opto-Electronic Materials and Devices, Post-silicon Semiconductor Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae-Hyeong Kim
- Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Gi Doo Cha
- Department of Systems Biotechnology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, 17546, Republic of Korea
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