Biology subjects

Street, M. G.

Publications and source records attributed to Street, M. G..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2019

Analytical characterization of Parylene-C degradation mechanisms on Utah arrays: evaluation of in vitro Reactive Accelerated Aging model compared to multiyear in vivo implantation

Implantable neural microelectrodes are integral components of neuroprosthetic technologies and can transform treatments for many neural-mediated disorders. However, dielectric material degradation during long-term (> 1 year) indwelling periods restricts device functional lifetimes to a few years. This comprehensive work carefully investigates in vivo material degradation and also explores the ability of in vitro Reactive Accelerated Aging (RAA) to evaluate implant stability. Parylene C-coated Utah electrode arrays (UEAs) implanted in feline peripheral nerve for 3.25 years were explanted and compared to RAA-processed devices, aged in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) + 20 mM H2O2 at either 67 or 87 {degrees}C (28 or 7 days, respectively). Electron microscopy revealed similar physical damage characteristics between explants and RAA (87{degrees} C) devices. Parylene C degradation was overwhelmingly apparent for UEAs from both RAA cohorts. Controls aged in PBS alone displayed almost no damage. Spectroscopic characterization (EDX, XPS, FTIR) found clear indications of oxidation and chlorine abstraction for parylene C aged in vivo. While in vitro aging was also accompanied by signs of oxidation, changes in the chemistry in vivo and in vitro were statistically different. Analysis of RAA- aged devices identified UEA fabrication approaches that may greatly improve device resistance to degradation. This work underscores the need for an improved understanding of in vivo damage mechanisms, to facilitate the critical need for representative in vitro accelerated testing paradigms for long-term implants.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2017

Automated Reactive Accelerated Aging for Rapid In Vitro Evaluation of Neural Implants Performance

ObjectiveNovel therapeutic applications for neural implants require miniaturized devices. Pilot clinical studies suggest that rapid failure of the miniaturized neural implants in the body presents a major challenge for this type of technology. Miniaturization imposes stricter requirements for reliability of materials and designs. Evaluation of neural implant performance over clinically relevant timescales presents time-and cost-prohibitive challenges for animal models.\n\nApproachIn vitro reactive accelerated aging (RAA) was developed to expedite durability testing of these devices. RAA simulates an aggressive physiological environment associated with an immune response and implicated in device failure. It uses hydrogen peroxide, which mimics reactive oxygen species (ROS), and high temperature to accelerate chemical reactions that lead to device degradation. RAA accurately simulates the degradation pattern of neural implants observed in vivo, but requires daily maintenance and is prone to variability in performance.\n\nMain resultsThis work introduces automated reactive accelerated aging (aRAA) that is compatible with multiplexing. The core of aRAA is electrochemical detection for feedback control of hydrogen peroxide concentration, implemented with simple off-the shelf components.\n\nSignificanceaRAA allows multiple parallel experiments for a high-throughput optimization of reactive aging conditions to more quickly and more rigorously simulate the in vivo environment. aRAA is a cost-effective tool for rapid in vitro evaluation of durability of neural implants, ultimately expediting the development of a new generation of miniaturized devices with long functional lifespans.

bioengineering↗