Implantable Electrodes Based on Poly-aniline (PANI) and Silicone for Neural Sensing/Stimulations

Implantable bioelectrodes have the potential to advance neural sensing and muscle stimulation in peripheral nerve injuries. The current emerging prostheses rely on the use of metals to assist the nerve recovery process, which is often slow. The implantable electrode works as a bridge between the proximal end of the injured peripheral nerve and the respective muscle. Current electrodes suffer from several drawbacks including the high cost, high interfacial impedance, and stiffness, hence, damaging the body soft tissue. This paper discusses the fabrication and characterization of a novel, low-cost, flexible bioelectrodes based on silicone, and polyaniline (PANI). This work synthesized and characterized three types of implantable electrodes based on their electrochemical and mechanical properties; where PANI and silicone were varied. The electrode samples were fabricated and characterized for their conductivity, capacitive behavior and their mechanical properties. The PANI based samples displayed a bulk impedance of 10.7 k Omega with an impedance of 1.3 M Omega at the frequency of 1 kHz; furthermore, it had a modulus of elasticity of 0.1468 MPa. The results for the silicone with PANI showed promising electrochemical and mechanical characteristics with flexible and ductile properties when compared with the values reported in the literature.