Biocompatible benzocyclobutene (BCB)-based neural implants with micro-fluidic channel

Keekeun Lee, Jiping He, Ryan Clement, Stephen Massia, Bruce Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

71 Scopus citations

Abstract

Poly-benzocyclobutene (BCB)-based intracortical neural implant was fabricated, in which micro-fluidic channel was embedded to deliver drug solutions. BCB presents several attractive features for chronic applications: flexibility, biocompatibility, desirable chemical and electrical properties, and can be easily manufactured using existing batch micro-fabrication technology. The fabricated implants have single shank with three recording sites (20 μm×20 μm) and two reserviors (inlet and outlet). The channel had large volume (40 μm width and 10 μm height), and hydrophobic surface to provide a high degree of chemical inertness. All the recording sites were positioned near the end of the shank in order to increase the probability of recording neural signals from a target volume of tissue. In vitro cytotoxicity tests of prototype implants revealed no adverse toxic effects on cultured cells. The implant with a silicon backbone layer of 5-10 μm was robust enough to penetrate rat's pia without buckling, a major drawback of polymer alone. The averaged impedance value at 1 KHz was ∼1.2 MΩ. Simultaneous recordings of neural signals from barrel cortex of a rat were successfully demonstrated.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)404-407
Number of pages4
JournalBiosensors and Bioelectronics
Volume20
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 15 2004

Keywords

  • Benzocyclobutene (BCB)
  • Bio-MEMS
  • Electrodes
  • Microfluidics
  • Neural implant
  • Polyimide

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Biophysics
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Electrochemistry

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