Biodegradable stimulating electrodes for resident neural stem cell activation in vivo

Tianhao Chen; Kylie Sin Ki Lau; Aryan Singh; Yi Xin Zhang; Sara Mohseni Taromsari; Meysam Salari; Hani E Naguib; Cindi M Morshead

doi:10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122957

Biodegradable stimulating electrodes for resident neural stem cell activation in vivo

Biomaterials. 2024 Nov 9:315:122957. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122957. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Tianhao Chen¹, Kylie Sin Ki Lau¹, Aryan Singh¹, Yi Xin Zhang², Sara Mohseni Taromsari², Meysam Salari², Hani E Naguib³, Cindi M Morshead⁴

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
² Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
³ Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: naguib@mie.utoronto.ca.
⁴ Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; CRANIA, University Health Network and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: cindi.morshead@utoronto.ca.

PMID: 39541841
DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122957

Abstract

Brain stimulation has been recognized as a clinically effective strategy for treating neurological disorders. Endogenous brain neural precursor cells (NPCs) have been shown to be electrosensitive cells that respond to electrical stimulation by expanding in number, undergoing directed cathodal migration, and differentiating into neural phenotypes in vivo, supporting the application of electrical stimulation to promote neural repair. In this study, we present the design of a flexible and biodegradable brain stimulation electrode for temporally regulated neuromodulation of NPCs. Leveraging the cathodally skewed electrochemical window of molybdenum and the volumetric charge transfer properties of conductive polymer, we engineered the electrodes with high charge injection capacity for the delivery of biphasic monopolar stimulation. We demonstrate that the electrodes are biocompatible and can deliver an electric field sufficient for NPC activation for 7 days post implantation before undergoing resorption in physiological conditions, thereby eliminating the need for surgical extraction. The biodegradable electrode demonstrated its potential to be used for NPC-based neural repair strategies.

Keywords: Biodegradable electronics; Brain stimulation; Neural precursor cells.