Mueller Natalie N, Ocoko Mali Ya Mungu, Kim Youjoung, Li Kate, Gisser Kaela, Glusauskas Gabriele, Lugo Isabella, Dernelle Peter, Hermoso Anna Clarissa, Wang Jaime, Duncan Jonathan, Druschel Lindsey N, Graham Francine, Capadona Jeffrey R, Hess-Dunning Allison
Advanced Platform Technology Center, VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System, Cleveland, OH USA.
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH USA.
Npj Flex Electron. 2025;9(1):64. doi: 10.1038/s41528-025-00440-5. Epub 2025 Jul 9.
Intracortical microelectrodes are used for recording activity from individual neurons, providing both a valuable neuroscience tool and an enabling medical technology for individuals with motor disabilities. Standard neural probes carrying the microelectrodes are rigid silicon-based structures that can penetrate the brain parenchyma to interface with the targeted neurons. Unfortunately, within weeks after implantation, neural recording quality from microelectrodes degrades, owing largely to a neuroinflammatory response. Key contributors to the neuroinflammatory response include mechanical mismatch at the device-tissue interface and oxidative stress. We developed a mechanically-adaptive, resveratrol-eluting (MARE) neural probe to mitigate both mechanical mismatch and oxidative stress and thereby promote improved neural recording quality and longevity. In this work, we demonstrate that compared to rigid silicon controls, highly-flexible MARE probes exhibit improved recording performance, more stable impedance, and a healing tissue response. With further optimization, MARE probes can serve as long-term, robust neural probes for brain-machine interface applications.
皮层内微电极用于记录单个神经元的活动，它既是一种有价值的神经科学工具，也是为运动障碍患者提供的一种辅助医疗技术。携带微电极的标准神经探针是基于刚性硅的结构，能够穿透脑实质与目标神经元进行连接。不幸的是，植入后几周内，微电极的神经记录质量就会下降，这主要是由于神经炎症反应。神经炎症反应的主要促成因素包括设备与组织界面处的机械不匹配和氧化应激。我们开发了一种机械自适应、释放白藜芦醇的（MARE）神经探针，以减轻机械不匹配和氧化应激，从而提高神经记录质量并延长使用寿命。在这项工作中，我们证明，与刚性硅对照相比，高柔韧性的MARE探针表现出更好的记录性能、更稳定的阻抗以及愈合组织反应。通过进一步优化，MARE探针可作为用于脑机接口应用的长期、可靠的神经探针。
