Hierarchical dendrite-inspired organic bioelectronic interfaces for neuronal integration

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)

Abstract

Abstract Brain–machine interfaces rely on intimate electrical communication between living neurons and artificial materials, yet conventional electrode architectures remain structurally different to neuronal tissue, limiting stable cell–electrode coupling and long-term recording. Although conducting polymers and microstructured interfaces have individually improved the electrochemical and biological properties of neural electrodes, integrating neuromimetic architecture with electrically active organic materials to direct neuron–electrode interactions has remained challenging. Here we engineer dendrite-inspired organic microelectrodes by programming the self-assembly of conducting polymer fibers directly on microelectrode arrays. By controlling the electrodeposition process, we generate hierarchical architectures that emulate key stages of dendritic development while preserving the relevant electrochemical properties of conducting polymers. These bioinspired interfaces promote nanoscale membrane conformability, reduce the neuron–electrode cleft, and induce localized membrane engulfment of the electrode structures. The enhanced structural integration is accompanied by increased synaptic protein expression and neuronal excitability within mature primary cortical networks. Furthermore, the dendritic electrodes enable localized laser-assisted optoporation, providing transient intracellular electrophysiological access while maintaining extracellular recording functionality.

Authors 14

1. Kevin Lengefeld Aachen Faculty of Electrical Engineering and IT Chair of Neuroelectronics

   RWTH Aachen University · Forschungszentrum Jülich

   Affiliation as printed

   Chair of Neuroelectronics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and IT, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

   Institute of Biological Information Processing IBI-3, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany

2. Esther Matamoros Aachen Faculty of Electrical Engineering and IT Chair of Neuroelectronics

   RWTH Aachen University · Forschungszentrum Jülich

   Affiliation as printed

   Chair of Neuroelectronics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and IT, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

   Institute of Biological Information Processing IBI-3, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany

3. Colin Fernandes

   Forschungszentrum Jülich

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Biological Information Processing IBI-3, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany

4. Francesca D’Elia Aachen Faculty of Electrical Engineering and IT Chair of Neuroelectronics

   RWTH Aachen University · Forschungszentrum Jülich

   Affiliation as printed

   Chair of Neuroelectronics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and IT, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

   Institute of Biological Information Processing IBI-3, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany

5. Giuseppina Iachetta

   Italian Institute of Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy

6. Elke Brauweiler‐Reuters

   Forschungszentrum Jülich

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Biological Information Processing IBI-3, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany

7. Nevena Stajković Aachen Faculty of Electrical Engineering and IT Chair of Neuroelectronics

   RWTH Aachen University · Forschungszentrum Jülich

   Affiliation as printed

   Chair of Neuroelectronics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and IT, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

   Institute of Biological Information Processing IBI-3, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany

8. Michele Dipalo
   Affiliation as printed

   FORESEE Biosystems Srl, Genova, Italy

9. Claudia Latte Bovio

   Italian Institute of Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Lecce, Italy

10. Andreas Offenhäusser

    Forschungszentrum Jülich

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Biological Information Processing IBI-3, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany

11. Simon Musall Aachen Institute of Biology 2

    RWTH Aachen University · Forschungszentrum Jülich

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Biological Information Processing IBI-3, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany

    Institute of Biology 2, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

12. Francesco De Angelis

    Italian Institute of Technology

    Affiliation as printed

    Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy

13. Valeria Criscuolo Aachen Faculty of Electrical Engineering and IT Chair of Neuroelectronics

    RWTH Aachen University · Forschungszentrum Jülich

    Affiliation as printed

    Chair of Neuroelectronics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and IT, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

    Institute of Biological Information Processing IBI-3, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany

14. Francesca Santoro corresponding Aachen Faculty of Electrical Engineering and IT Chair of Neuroelectronics

    RWTH Aachen University · Forschungszentrum Jülich

    Affiliation as printed

    Chair of Neuroelectronics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and IT, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

    Institute of Biological Information Processing IBI-3, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany