Bioaugmented design and functional evaluation of low damage implantable array electrodes

Implantable neural electrodes are key components of brain-computer interfaces (BCI), but the mismatch in mechanical and biological properties between electrode materials and brain tissue can lead to foreign body reactions and glial scarring, and subsequently compromise the long-term stability of electrical signal transmission. In this study, we proposed a new concept for the design and bioaugmentation of implantable electrodes (bio-array electrodes) featuring a heterogeneous gradient structure. Different composite polyaniline-gelatin-alginate based conductive hydrogel formulations were developed for electrode surface coating. In addition, the design, materials, and performance of the developed electrode was optimized through a combination of numerical simulations and physio-chemical characterizations. The long-term biological performance of the bio-array electrodes were investigated in vivo using a C57 mouse model. It was found that compared to metal array electrodes, the surface charge of the bio-array electrodes increased by 1.74 times, and the impedance at 1 kHz decreased by 63.17 %, with a doubling of the average capacitance. Long-term animal experiments showed that the bio-array electrodes could consistently record 2.5 times more signals than those of the metal array electrodes, and the signal-to-noise ratio based on action potentials was 2.1 times higher. The study investigated the mechanisms of suppressing the scarring effect by the bioaugmented design, revealing reduces brain damage as a result of the interface biocompatibility between the bio-array electrodes and brain tissue, and confirmed the long-term in vivo stability of the bio-array electrodes. • A transitional biolayer was designed to connect metal electrodes and brain tissue, improving mechanical and biological fit. • Conductive hydrogel formulations were developed, offering low stiffness, high conductivity for coating neural electrode. • A high-coverage structural design was proposed to optimize the bio-array electrodes. • Bio-array electrodes demonstrate superior electrophysiological recording performance compared to traditional metal electrodes. • The bioaugmented design reduces scar tissue formation, minimizes brain tissue damage and enhances overall stability.