Nanofiber scaffolding for improved neural electrode biocompatibility

The prospect of obtaining neural signals directly from the brain for prosthetic control and chronic research has been limited by the brains natural immune response to current thin film neural electrodes. In this study we have attempted to coat ceramic thin film neural electrodes with a nanostructured, biodegradable polymer matrix for subsequent use in localized, controlled drug delivery and glial sear inhibition. Twelve rats were implanted with coated and uncoated neural electrodes. The recording characteristics of polymer-coated electrodes were indistinguishable from that of control electrodes. After 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 6 weeks post-implantation the rats were perfused and processed using glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunohistochemistry. The coated electrodes glial scar was quantified and found to be the same as that induced by non-coated neural electrodes. The prospect of utilizing these nanofiber scaffoldings for drug delivery can now be investigated.