In Vitro Biocompatibility of Various Polymer-Based Microelectrode Arrays for Retinal Prosthesis

PURPOSE. The purpose of our study is to evaluate the biocompatibility of various polymers used as microelectrode arrays (MEAs) in retinal prostheses through in vitro cytotoxicity testing following a standardized method. METHODS. Three types of polymer-based MEAs were examined: silicone-based platinum, polyimide-based gold and liquid crystal polymer (LCP)-based gold MEAs. The silicone/platinum MEAs were fabricated by a Nd:YAG laser, polyimide/gold MEAs by a semiconductor manufacturing technique, and LCP/gold MEAs by laser micromachining and thermal-bonding process. All experimental procedures followed the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 10993-5. To obtain the extracts of specimens, 4 g of each type of MEA were eluted by culture media, MEM, for 24 hours. Then, several diluents of extracts, including the original extracts, were applied to a cultured-cell monolayer, L929 fibroblasts. The morphologic changes of cells were analyzed by microscope after 24 and 48 hours of incubation. The quantitative evaluations of cell viability were performed by MTT assay after 24 hours of incubation. RESULTS. The microscopic evaluations revealed that extracts from polymer-based MEAs did not induce morphologic changes or reduction of cells compared with control irrespective of concentrations of extracts. The MTT assay showed high viability values of approximately 80 to 130% regardless of diluted ratio of extracts from polymer-based MEAs. None of the polymers demonstrated a significant reduction of cell viability when compared with control. CONCLUSIONS. All types of polymer-based MEAs, including silicone/platinum, polyimide/gold, and LCP/gold MEAs, meet the criteria of biocompatibility guided by international standards, ISO 10993-5. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2012;53:2653-2657) DOI:10.1167/iovs.11-9341