title: Direct local polymerization of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) in rat cortex.
abstract: Glial scar encapsulation is thought to be one of the major reasons for the failure of chronic brain-machine interfaces. Many strategies, including modification of the probe surface chemistry, delivery of anti-inflammatory drugs, and changes of probe geometry, have been employed to reduce glial scar formation. We have proposed that a possible means to establish long-term, reliable communication across the scar is the in situ polymerization of conjugated polymers such as PEDOT in neural tissue. Previously, we exposed entire brain slices to the EDOT monomer. Here, we demonstrate that PEDOT can be polymerized by the direct delivery of EDOT monomer to the reaction site. The monomer was delivered into rat cortex via microcannula and simultaneously electrochemically polymerized within the tissue using a microwire electrode. We found that the resulting PEDOT polymer cloud grew out from the working electrode tip and extended far out into the brain tissue, spanning distances more than 1mm. We also examined the morphology of resulting polymer cloud by optical microscopy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
authors.forename: Liangqi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ouyang
authors.forename: Rylie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Kathleen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Feldman
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004566:Electrodes; D058105:Polymerization; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; D011108:Polymers; C121383:poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene)