Biocompatible electrodes could treat neurological disorders

Klas Tybrandt, principal investigator at the Laboratory of Organic Electronics at Linköping University, Sweden, led the development of the new technology for long-term stable neural recording, which is based on a novel elastic material composite that retains high electrical conductivity.

The result - achieved in collaboration with colleagues at ETH Zürich, Columbia University, and New York University - is said to be crucial for numerous applications in biomedical engineering. The research is described in Advanced Materials.

Coupling electronic components and nerve cells makes it possible to collect information about cell signalling, and helps to diagnose and treat neurological disorders and diseases such as epilepsy.

Achieving long-term connections that do not damage neurons or tissue is challenging since the soft tissue of the body and hard electronic components have different mechanical properties.

“As human tissue is elastic and mobile, damage and inflammation arise at the interface with rigid electronic components,” said Tybrandt, leader of the Soft Electronics group at Linköping’s Laboratory of Organic Electronics. “It not only causes damage to tissue; it also attenuates neural signals.”