Journal
JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH PART B-APPLIED BIOMATERIALS
Volume 81B, Issue 2, Pages 551-563Publisher
WILEY-LISS
DOI: 10.1002/jbm.b.30696
Keywords
neural prostheses; hydrogel; NGF; nerve regeneration; electrical stimulation
Funding
- NINDS NIH HHS [R43 NS04968701] Funding Source: Medline
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Improved sensory and motor prostheses for the central nervous system will require large numbers of electrodes with low electrical thresholds for neural excitation. With the eventual goal of reducing stimulation thresholds, we have investigated the use of biodegradable, neurotrophin-eluting hydrogels (i.e., poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(lactic acid), PEGPLA) as a means of attracting neurites to the surface of stimulating electrodes. PEGPLA hydrogels with release rates ranging from 1.5 to 3 weeks were synthesized. These hydrogels were applied to multielectrode arrays with sputtered iridium oxide charge-injection sites. The coatings had little impact on the iridium oxide electrochemical properties, including charge storage capacity, impedance, and voltage transients during current pulsing. Additionally, we quantitatively examined the ability of neurotrophin-eluting, PEGPLA hydrogels to promote neurite extension in vitro using a PC12 cell culture model. Hydrogels released neurotrophin (nerve growth factor, NGF) for at least I week, with neurite extension near that of an NGF positive control and much higher than extension seen from sham, bovine serum albumin-releasing boluses, and a negative control. These results show that neurotrophin-eluting hydrogels can be applied to multielectrode arrays, and suggest a method to improve neuron,electrode proximity, which could result in lowered electrical stimulation thresholds. Reduced thresholds support the creation of smaller electrode structures and high density electrode prostheses, greatly enhancing prosthesis control and function. (C) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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