Ultra‐Flexible µ‐ECoG Arrays Based on PEDOT:PSS Micropillars

Abstract Devices capable of recording electrophysiological signals with high signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) and spatiotemporal resolution are crucial in neurological research. The introduction of flexible materials and conductive polymers in the fabrication of multi electrode arrays (MEAs) for electroc...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Alice Lunghi, Michele Bianchi, Pierpaolo Greco, Riccardo Viaro, Michele Di Lauro, Luciano Fadiga, Fabio Biscarini
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley-VCH 2025-06-01
Series:Advanced Materials Interfaces
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/admi.202500051
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849424607027658752
author Alice Lunghi
Michele Bianchi
Pierpaolo Greco
Riccardo Viaro
Michele Di Lauro
Luciano Fadiga
Fabio Biscarini
author_facet Alice Lunghi
Michele Bianchi
Pierpaolo Greco
Riccardo Viaro
Michele Di Lauro
Luciano Fadiga
Fabio Biscarini
author_sort Alice Lunghi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Devices capable of recording electrophysiological signals with high signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) and spatiotemporal resolution are crucial in neurological research. The introduction of flexible materials and conductive polymers in the fabrication of multi electrode arrays (MEAs) for electrocorticography (ECoG) enabled higher quality of recorded signals thanks to device conformability and to low‐impedance electrodes. Advances in microfabrication techniques allow a dramatic reduction in electrode size, leading to highly‐dense microelectrode arrays with increased spatial resolution. Here, the synergic contribution of surface micropatterning and of conductive polymers on the recording performance of a home‐built µECoG device is explored. The device is fabricated through a combination of conventional and unconventional micropatterning techniques, leading to an ultra‐conformable polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) array featuring different‐size flexible micropillars forests coated with a thin layer of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS). The performance of the device is assessed in vitro by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and in vivo by detecting somatosensory evoked potentials from the somatosensory cortex of a rat. The increasing of the geometric area has only limited effect on the recording capability in the in vivo model investigated. Nevertheless, the extremely high SNR values obtained place the proposed approach as an innovative and versatile strategy for the prototyping of ultra‐conformable µECoG devices.
format Article
id doaj-art-7444ecf4120f4ba2b67d9f0e2807960c
institution Kabale University
issn 2196-7350
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Wiley-VCH
record_format Article
series Advanced Materials Interfaces
spelling doaj-art-7444ecf4120f4ba2b67d9f0e2807960c2025-08-20T03:30:04ZengWiley-VCHAdvanced Materials Interfaces2196-73502025-06-011212n/an/a10.1002/admi.202500051Ultra‐Flexible µ‐ECoG Arrays Based on PEDOT:PSS MicropillarsAlice Lunghi0Michele Bianchi1Pierpaolo Greco2Riccardo Viaro3Michele Di Lauro4Luciano Fadiga5Fabio Biscarini6Department of Physics Mathematics and Informatics Università di Modena and Reggio Emilia Modena 41125 ItalyDepartment of Life Sciences University of Modena e Reggio Emilia Modena 41125 ItalySection of Physiology Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation University of Ferrara Ferrara 44121 ItalySection of Physiology Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation University of Ferrara Ferrara 44121 ItalyCentre for Translational Neurophysiology of Speech and Communication Italian Institute of Technology Ferrara 44121 ItalyCentre for Translational Neurophysiology of Speech and Communication Italian Institute of Technology Ferrara 44121 ItalyCentre for Translational Neurophysiology of Speech and Communication Italian Institute of Technology Ferrara 44121 ItalyAbstract Devices capable of recording electrophysiological signals with high signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) and spatiotemporal resolution are crucial in neurological research. The introduction of flexible materials and conductive polymers in the fabrication of multi electrode arrays (MEAs) for electrocorticography (ECoG) enabled higher quality of recorded signals thanks to device conformability and to low‐impedance electrodes. Advances in microfabrication techniques allow a dramatic reduction in electrode size, leading to highly‐dense microelectrode arrays with increased spatial resolution. Here, the synergic contribution of surface micropatterning and of conductive polymers on the recording performance of a home‐built µECoG device is explored. The device is fabricated through a combination of conventional and unconventional micropatterning techniques, leading to an ultra‐conformable polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) array featuring different‐size flexible micropillars forests coated with a thin layer of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS). The performance of the device is assessed in vitro by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and in vivo by detecting somatosensory evoked potentials from the somatosensory cortex of a rat. The increasing of the geometric area has only limited effect on the recording capability in the in vivo model investigated. Nevertheless, the extremely high SNR values obtained place the proposed approach as an innovative and versatile strategy for the prototyping of ultra‐conformable µECoG devices.https://doi.org/10.1002/admi.202500051conductive polymerselectrodepositionepicortical recordingmicrofabricationPDMSsomatosensory evoked potential
spellingShingle Alice Lunghi
Michele Bianchi
Pierpaolo Greco
Riccardo Viaro
Michele Di Lauro
Luciano Fadiga
Fabio Biscarini
Ultra‐Flexible µ‐ECoG Arrays Based on PEDOT:PSS Micropillars
Advanced Materials Interfaces
conductive polymers
electrodeposition
epicortical recording
microfabrication
PDMS
somatosensory evoked potential
title Ultra‐Flexible µ‐ECoG Arrays Based on PEDOT:PSS Micropillars
title_full Ultra‐Flexible µ‐ECoG Arrays Based on PEDOT:PSS Micropillars
title_fullStr Ultra‐Flexible µ‐ECoG Arrays Based on PEDOT:PSS Micropillars
title_full_unstemmed Ultra‐Flexible µ‐ECoG Arrays Based on PEDOT:PSS Micropillars
title_short Ultra‐Flexible µ‐ECoG Arrays Based on PEDOT:PSS Micropillars
title_sort ultra flexible µ ecog arrays based on pedot pss micropillars
topic conductive polymers
electrodeposition
epicortical recording
microfabrication
PDMS
somatosensory evoked potential
url https://doi.org/10.1002/admi.202500051
work_keys_str_mv AT alicelunghi ultraflexibleμecogarraysbasedonpedotpssmicropillars
AT michelebianchi ultraflexibleμecogarraysbasedonpedotpssmicropillars
AT pierpaologreco ultraflexibleμecogarraysbasedonpedotpssmicropillars
AT riccardoviaro ultraflexibleμecogarraysbasedonpedotpssmicropillars
AT micheledilauro ultraflexibleμecogarraysbasedonpedotpssmicropillars
AT lucianofadiga ultraflexibleμecogarraysbasedonpedotpssmicropillars
AT fabiobiscarini ultraflexibleμecogarraysbasedonpedotpssmicropillars