Electrochemically actuated microelectrodes for minimally invasive peripheral nerve interfaces.
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Peer-reviewed
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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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Acknowledgements: C.D. acknowledges the helpful discussion with D. Yan and A. G. González. C.D. also acknowledges funding from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) Early Postdoc.Mobility Fellowship and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under the UK government’s Horizon Europe funding guarantee (EP/Y020294/1). A.C.-L. acknowledges support from the University of Cambridge Borysiewicz Interdisciplinary Fellowship program. S.M. acknowledges funding from the Cambridge Trust, University of Cambridge. G.G.M. acknowledges funding from the EPSRC IRC in Targeted Delivery for Hard-to-Treat Cancers (EP/S009000/1). For the purpose of open access, the author has applied a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) licence to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising from this submission.
Funder: Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) Early Postdoc. Mobility Fellowship (P2ELP2-199741) UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under the UK government’s Horizon Europe funding guarantee [EP/Y020294/1]
Funder: Cambridge Trust, University of Cambridge
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1476-4660
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Horizon Europe UKRI Underwrite MSCA (101108375 EP/Y020294/1)