Abstract
A mechanically adaptive polymer nanocomposite for use as a structural material for microelectromechanical system (MEMS)-based penetrating implantable biosensors, particularly for the brain, is presented as a solution to the limited clinical implementation of such sensors. Micromechanical testing of MEMS-scale test structures was used to determine the Young's moduli of the polymer nanocomposite in both its dry rigid state (E=2414MPa) and its wet compliant state (E=4.9 MPa), as well as the rate of mechanical switching upon immersion in an aqueous solution. The softening of the composite materials after implantation in the cortex of a Sprague-Dawley rat was studied by ex vivo environmentally controlled microtensile testing. A microfabrication process for producing metallized neural probes for recording of electrical signals was also developed. The results support the mechanically adaptive nanocomposite as a viable option for MEMS-based penetrating implantable biosensors.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 6838966 |
Pages (from-to) | 774-784 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems |
Volume | 23 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2014 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Implantable biomedical devices
- materials testing
- nanocomposites
- neural microtechnology
- neural prosthesis
- polymer films.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering