Improved Poly(3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) for Neural Stimulation.

Objective: This study compares the stability of three variations of the conductive polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) or PEDOT for neural micro-stimulation under both in vitro and in vivo conditions. We examined PEDOT films deposited with counter-ions tetrafluoroborate (TFB) and poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS), and

Pedot: PSS combined with carbon nanotubes (CNTs).

Methods: For the in vitro stability evaluation, implantable micro-wires were coated with the polymers, placed in a vial containing phosphate buffered saline (PBS) under accelerated aging conditions (60°C), and current pulses were applied.

Dynamic steering of in vitro cortical neurons using field stimulation.

Neurological disorders are often characterized by abnormal neuronal activity. In the case of epilepsy, this can manifest itself in the form of uncontrolled synchronous activity often in the form of bursting. Pattern steering is the ability to apply stimulation to a network that effectively changes its dynamical firing pattern.

Improving the performance of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) for brain-machine interface applications.

Conducting polymers, especially poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) based materials, are important for developing highly sensitive and microscale neural probes. In the present work, we show that the conductivity and stability of PEDOT can be significantly increased by switching the widely used counter anion poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS) to the smaller tetrafluoroborate (TFB) anion during the electrodeposition of the polymer. Time-dependent impedance measurements of polymer modified implantable microwires were conducted in physiological buffer solutions under accelerated aging conditions and the relative stability of PEDOT:PSS and PEDOT:TFB modified microwires was compared over time.