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Semiconducting Polymers for Neural Applications.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

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Authors

Dimov, Ivan B 
Malliaras, George G  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4582-8501

Abstract

Electronically interfacing with the nervous system for the purposes of health diagnostics and therapy, sports performance monitoring, or device control has been a subject of intense academic and industrial research for decades. This trend has only increased in recent years, with numerous high-profile research initiatives and commercial endeavors. An important research theme has emerged as a result, which is the incorporation of semiconducting polymers in various devices that communicate with the nervous system─from wearable brain-monitoring caps to penetrating implantable microelectrodes. This has been driven by the potential of this broad class of materials to improve the electrical and mechanical properties of the tissue-device interface, along with possibilities for increased biocompatibility. In this review we first begin with a tutorial on neural interfacing, by reviewing the basics of nervous system function, device physics, and neuroelectrophysiological techniques and their demands, and finally we give a brief perspective on how material improvements can address current deficiencies in this system. The second part is a detailed review of past work on semiconducting polymers, covering electrical properties, structure, synthesis, and processing.

Description

Keywords

Brain, Nervous System, Polymers, Prostheses and Implants

Journal Title

Chem Rev

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0009-2665
1520-6890

Volume Title

Publisher

American Chemical Society (ACS)
Sponsorship
European Research Council (610115)
EPSRC (EP/T004908/1)