1. Soft, Implantable Bioelectronic Interfaces for Translational Research
- Author
-
Giuseppe Schiavone, Simon Borgognon, Ivan Furfaro, Nicolas Vachicouras, Andreas Rowald, Florian Fallegger, Sébastien Jiguet, Qin Li, Marco Capogrosso, Ismael Seáñez, Evgenia Roussinova, Beatrice Barra, Chuan Qin, Grégoire Courtine, Erwan Bezard, Kang Xiaoyang, Stéphanie P. Lacour, and Jocelyne Bloch
- Subjects
Biomimetic materials ,Materials science ,Translational research ,Biocompatible Materials ,02 engineering and technology ,soft electrodes ,010402 general chemistry ,Physiological movement ,01 natural sciences ,Translational Research, Biomedical ,Neurotechnology ,Biomimetics ,Electric Impedance ,Animals ,General Materials Science ,biomimetic materials ,Motor Neurons ,multimodal characterization ,Mechanical Engineering ,Muscles ,Biological tissue ,Equipment Design ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,neural implants ,Neuromodulation (medicine) ,Electric Stimulation ,0104 chemical sciences ,Brain implant ,Implantable Neurostimulators ,Spinal Cord ,Mechanics of Materials ,Models, Animal ,Systems design ,Macaca ,Microtechnology ,0210 nano-technology ,Biomedical engineering - Abstract
The convergence of materials science, electronics, and biology, namely bioelectronic interfaces, leads novel and precise communication with biological tissue, particularly with the nervous system. However, the translation of lab‐ based innovation toward clinical use calls for further advances in materials, manufacturing and characterization paradigms, and design rules. Herein, a translational framework engineered to accelerate the deployment of microfabricated interfaces for translational research is proposed and applied to the soft neurotechnology called electronic dura mater, e‐dura. Anatomy, implant function, and surgical procedure guide the system design. A high‐yield, silicone‐ on‐silicon wafer process is developed to ensure reproducible characteristics of the electrodes. A biomimetic multimodal platform that replicates surgical insertion in an anatomy‐based model applies physiological movement, emulates therapeutic use of the electrodes, and enables advanced validation and rapid optimization in vitro of the implants. Functionality of scaled e‐dura is confirmed in nonhuman primates, where epidural neuromodulation of the spinal cord activates selective groups of muscles in the upper limbs with unmet precision. Performance stability is controlled over 6 weeks in vivo. The synergistic steps of design, fabrication, and biomimetic in vitro validation and in vivo evaluation in translational animal models are of general applicability and answer needs in multiple bioelectronic designs and medical technologies.Supporting Information
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF