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Flexible Neural Interfaces Based on 3D PEDOT:PSS Micropillar Arrays

Advanced Materials Interfaces, vol. 9

Abstract

Abstract Multi‐electrode arrays with 3D micropillars allow the recording of electrophysiological signals in vitro with higher precision and signal‐to‐noise ratio than planar arrays. This is the result of the tight interaction between the 3D electrode and the cell membrane. Most 3D electrodes are manufactured on rigid substrates and their integration on flexible substrates is largely unexplored. Here, a straightforward approach is presented for fabricating soft interfaces featuring 3D poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene)‐poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) micropillars on a soft flexible substrate made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Large‐area isotropic arrays of PEDOT:PSS micropillars with tailored geometric area, surface properties, and electrochemical characteristics are fabricated via a combination of soft‐lithography and electrodeposition. A 60% increase in capacitance is achieved for high density micropillars compared to planar electrodes and this is found to be correlated with the increased electroactive surface area. Furthermore, 3D PEDOT:PSS micropillars support adhesion, growth and differentiation of SH‐SY5Y cells, and influence the direction of neurite outgrowth. Finally, by virtue of their elasticity, soft micropillars act as excellent anchoring loci for elongating neurites, facilitating their bending and twisting around the micropillar, increasing the number of contact points between the cells and the electrode, a key requirement to obtain high performance neural interfaces.

Authors 12

  1. University of Ferrara · Italian Institute of Technology · Center for Translational Neurophysiology of Speech and Communication

    Affiliation as printed

    Center for Translational Neurophysiology of Speech and Communication Fondazione Istituto. Italiano di Tecnologia via Fossato di Mortara 17 Ferrara 44121 Italy

    Sezione di Fisiologia Università di Ferrara via Fossato di Mortara 17 Ferrara 44121 Italy

    Center for Translational Neurophysiology of Speech and Communication, Fondazione Istituto. Italiano di Tecnologia, via Fossato di Mortara 17, Ferrara, 44121 Italy

    Sezione di Fisiologia Università di Ferrara via Fossato di Mortara 17 Ferrara 44121 Italy

  2. Italian Institute of Technology

    Affiliation as printed

    Tissue Electronics Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Naples 80125 Italy

    Tissue Electronics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Naples, 80125 Italy

  3. Michele Bianchi corresponding

    Italian Institute of Technology · Center for Translational Neurophysiology of Speech and Communication

    Affiliation as printed

    Center for Translational Neurophysiology of Speech and Communication Fondazione Istituto. Italiano di Tecnologia via Fossato di Mortara 17 Ferrara 44121 Italy

    Center for Translational Neurophysiology of Speech and Communication, Fondazione Istituto. Italiano di Tecnologia, via Fossato di Mortara 17, Ferrara, 44121 Italy

  4. Italian Institute of Technology · University of Naples Federico II

    Affiliation as printed

    Dipartimento di Chimica Materiali e Produzione Industriale Università di Napoli Federico II Naples 80125 Italy

    Tissue Electronics Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Naples 80125 Italy

    Dipartimento di Chimica Materiali e Produzione Industriale Università di Napoli Federico II Naples 80125 Italy

    Tissue Electronics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Naples, 80125 Italy

  5. Italian Institute of Technology · Institute of Nanostructured Materials · Center for Translational Neurophysiology of Speech and Communication · National Research Council

    Affiliation as printed

    Center for Translational Neurophysiology of Speech and Communication Fondazione Istituto. Italiano di Tecnologia via Fossato di Mortara 17 Ferrara 44121 Italy

    Institute for Nanostructured Materials (ISMN) Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche via Gobetti 101 Bologna 40129 Italy

    Center for Translational Neurophysiology of Speech and Communication, Fondazione Istituto. Italiano di Tecnologia, via Fossato di Mortara 17, Ferrara, 44121 Italy

    Institute for Nanostructured Materials (ISMN), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Gobetti 101, Bologna, 40129 Italy

  6. Italian Institute of Technology

    Affiliation as printed

    Clean Room Facility Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia via Morego 30 Genoa 16163 Italy

    Clean Room Facility, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, Genoa, 16163 Italy

  7. Italian Institute of Technology

    Affiliation as printed

    Clean Room Facility Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia via Morego 30 Genoa 16163 Italy

    Clean Room Facility, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Morego 30, Genoa, 16163 Italy

  8. University of Ferrara · Italian Institute of Technology · Center for Translational Neurophysiology of Speech and Communication

    Affiliation as printed

    Center for Translational Neurophysiology of Speech and Communication Fondazione Istituto. Italiano di Tecnologia via Fossato di Mortara 17 Ferrara 44121 Italy

    Sezione di Fisiologia Università di Ferrara via Fossato di Mortara 17 Ferrara 44121 Italy

    Center for Translational Neurophysiology of Speech and Communication, Fondazione Istituto. Italiano di Tecnologia, via Fossato di Mortara 17, Ferrara, 44121 Italy

    Sezione di Fisiologia Università di Ferrara via Fossato di Mortara 17 Ferrara 44121 Italy

  9. Italian Institute of Technology · Center for Translational Neurophysiology of Speech and Communication

    Affiliation as printed

    Center for Translational Neurophysiology of Speech and Communication Fondazione Istituto. Italiano di Tecnologia via Fossato di Mortara 17 Ferrara 44121 Italy

    Center for Translational Neurophysiology of Speech and Communication, Fondazione Istituto. Italiano di Tecnologia, via Fossato di Mortara 17, Ferrara, 44121 Italy

  10. Forschungszentrum Jülich · Italian Institute of Technology · RWTH Aachen University

    Affiliation as printed

    Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology RWTH Aachen 52074 North Rhine‐Westphalia Germany

    Institute for Biological Information Processing‐Bioelectronics IBI‐3 Forschungszentrum Juelich 52428 Jülich Germany

    Tissue Electronics Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Naples 80125 Italy

    Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, RWTH Aachen, 52074 North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

    Institute for Biological Information Processing‐Bioelectronics IBI‐3 Forschungszentrum Juelich 52428 Jülich Germany

    Tissue Electronics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Naples, 80125 Italy

  11. University of Ferrara · Italian Institute of Technology · Center for Translational Neurophysiology of Speech and Communication

    Affiliation as printed

    Center for Translational Neurophysiology of Speech and Communication Fondazione Istituto. Italiano di Tecnologia via Fossato di Mortara 17 Ferrara 44121 Italy

    Sezione di Fisiologia Università di Ferrara via Fossato di Mortara 17 Ferrara 44121 Italy

    Center for Translational Neurophysiology of Speech and Communication, Fondazione Istituto. Italiano di Tecnologia, via Fossato di Mortara 17, Ferrara, 44121 Italy

    Sezione di Fisiologia Università di Ferrara via Fossato di Mortara 17 Ferrara 44121 Italy

  12. University of Modena and Reggio Emilia · Italian Institute of Technology · Center for Translational Neurophysiology of Speech and Communication

    Affiliation as printed

    Center for Translational Neurophysiology of Speech and Communication Fondazione Istituto. Italiano di Tecnologia via Fossato di Mortara 17 Ferrara 44121 Italy

    Life Science Department Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia via Campi 103 Modena 41125 Italy

    Center for Translational Neurophysiology of Speech and Communication, Fondazione Istituto. Italiano di Tecnologia, via Fossato di Mortara 17, Ferrara, 44121 Italy

    Life Science Department Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia via Campi 103 Modena 41125 Italy

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References 63