Green Rylie A, Lovell Nigel H, Wallace Gordon G, Poole-Warren Laura A
Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia.
Biomaterials. 2008 Aug-Sep;29(24-25):3393-9. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2008.04.047. Epub 2008 May 23.
Metal electrode materials used in active implantable devices are often associated with poor long-term stimulation and recording performance. Modification of these materials with conducting polymer coatings has been suggested as an approach for improving the neural tissue-electrode interface and increasing the effective lifetime of these implants. Neural interfaces ideally have intimate contact between the excitable tissue and the electrode to maintain signal quality and activation of neural cells. The outcomes of current research into conducting polymers as coatings has potential to enhance this tissue-material contact by increasing the electrode surface area and roughness as well as allowing delivery of bioactive signals to neural cells. However, challenges facing conducting polymers include poor electroactive stability and mechanical properties as well as control of the mobility, concentration and presentation of bioactive molecules. The impact of biological inclusions on polymer properties and their ongoing performance in neural prosthetics requires a greater understanding with future research aimed at controlling and optimising film characteristics for long-term performance. Optimising the electrode interface will require a trade-off between desired electrical, mechanical, chemical and biological properties.
用于有源植入式设备的金属电极材料通常与较差的长期刺激和记录性能相关。有人提出用导电聚合物涂层对这些材料进行改性，作为改善神经组织-电极界面和延长这些植入物有效寿命的一种方法。理想情况下，神经接口在可兴奋组织和电极之间有紧密接触，以维持信号质量和神经细胞的激活。目前将导电聚合物用作涂层的研究成果有可能通过增加电极表面积和粗糙度以及允许向神经细胞传递生物活性信号来增强这种组织与材料的接触。然而，导电聚合物面临的挑战包括电活性稳定性和机械性能较差，以及生物活性分子的迁移率、浓度和呈现方式的控制。生物内含物对聚合物性能及其在神经假体中的持续性能的影响需要更深入的了解，未来的研究旨在控制和优化薄膜特性以实现长期性能。优化电极界面将需要在所需的电学、机械、化学和生物学特性之间进行权衡。
