Neuroscience Program, University of Michigan, 4137 Undergraduate Research Bldg, 204 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2215, USA.
Biomaterials. 2012 Mar;33(7):1982-90. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2011.11.052. Epub 2011 Dec 17.
Cochlear implants provide hearing by electrically stimulating the auditory nerve. Implant function can be hindered by device design variables, including electrode size and electrode-to-nerve distance, and cochlear environment variables, including the degeneration of the auditory nerve following hair cell loss. We have developed a dual-component cochlear implant coating to improve both the electrical function of the implant and the biological stability of the inner ear, thereby facilitating the long-term perception of sound through a cochlear implant. This coating is a combination of an arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD)-functionalized alginate hydrogel and the conducting polymer poly(3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT). Both in vitro and in vivo assays on the effects of these electrode coatings demonstrated improvements in device performance. We found that the coating reduced electrode impedance, improved charge delivery, and locally released significant levels of a trophic factor into cochlear fluids. This coating is non-cytotoxic, clinically relevant, and has the potential to significantly improve the cochlear implant user's experience.
人工耳蜗通过电刺激听神经提供听觉。植入物的功能可能会受到设备设计变量（包括电极大小和电极与神经的距离）和耳蜗环境变量（包括毛细胞丧失后听神经的退化）的阻碍。我们开发了一种双组分耳蜗植入涂层，以改善植入物的电功能和内耳的生物稳定性，从而通过耳蜗植入长期感知声音。该涂层是精氨酸-甘氨酸-天冬氨酸（RGD）功能化藻酸盐水凝胶和导电聚合物聚（3,4-亚乙基二氧噻吩）（PEDOT）的组合。对这些电极涂层的体外和体内作用的研究表明，该涂层可以改善设备性能。我们发现，该涂层降低了电极阻抗，改善了电荷传递，并局部释放了大量的营养因子到耳蜗液中。该涂层无细胞毒性，具有临床相关性，有潜力显著改善耳蜗植入患者的体验。
