The auditory brainstem implant (ABI) restores hearing in patients with damaged auditory nerves. One of the main ideas to improve the efficacy of ABIs is to increase spatial specificity of stimulation, in order to minimize extra-auditory side-effects and to maximize the tonotopy of stimulation. This study reports on the development of a microfabricated conformable electrode array with small (100 m diameter) electrode sites. The latter are coated with a conducting polymer, PEDOT:PSS, to offer high charge injection properties and to safely stimulate the auditory system with small stimulation sites. We report on the design and fabrication of the polymer implant, and characterize the coatings in physiological conditions in vitro and under mechanical deformation. We characterize the coating electrochemically and during bending tests. We present a proof of principle experiment where the auditory system is efficiently activated by the flexible polymeric interface in a rat model. These results demonstrate the potential of using conducting polymer coatings on small electrode sites for electrochemically safe and efficient stimulation of the central auditory system.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c5tb00099h | DOI Listing |
ACS Appl Mater Interfaces
January 2025
School of Medicine, Huanghe Science and Technology University, Zhengzhou 450061, P. R. China.
Silver nanowire (Ag NW)-based elastic conductors have been considered a promising candidate for key stretchable electrodes in wearable devices. However, the weak interface interaction of Ag NWs and elastic substrates leads to poor durability of electronic devices. For everyday usage, an additional self-healing ability is required to resist scratching and damage.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNatl Sci Rev
January 2025
State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, The Centre of Nanoscale Science and Technology and Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, Institute of Polymer Chemistry, Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (RECAST), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Polymer Materials, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
It remains challenging to design efficient bifunctional semiconductor materials in organic photovoltaic and photodetector devices. Here, we report a butterfly-shaped molecule, named WD-6, which exhibits low energy disorder and small reorganization energy due to its enhanced molecular rigidity and unique assembly with strong intermolecular interaction. The binary photovoltaic device based on PM6:WD-6 achieved an efficiency of 18.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRSC Adv
January 2025
Institute of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology, Riga Technical University P. Valdena 3 LV-1048 Riga Latvia
Research efforts are increasingly directed towards the development of biodegradable polymers derived from renewable agricultural resources. Polymer blends, which combine multiple polymers, offer enhanced properties such as ductility and toughness while being more cost-effective compared to the development of specialized copolymers. This study examines nine binary and four ternary blends of polylactic acid (PLA), poly(butylene succinate--adipate) (PBSA), and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMater Horiz
January 2025
State Key Laboratory of Alternate Electrical Power System with Renewable Energy Sources, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China.
To achieve superior energy storage performance in dielectric polymer films, it is crucial to balance three key properties: high dielectric constant, high breakdown strength, and low dielectric loss. Here, we present the realization of ultrahigh efficiency and energy density in electrospun MBene/PEI composite films, achieved through an in-plane aligned doping pattern. The 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOper Dent
January 2025
*Kraig S. Vandewalle, DDS, MS, Col (ret), USAF, DC, Air Force Consultant in Dental Research Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency, AF Postgraduate Dental School, Joint Base San Antonio - Lackland, TX, USA; Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the optical, mechanical, and biological properties of two new, inexpensive lithium disilicate (LS2) materials (Lodden (LOD), LD Medical Technology; and BeautyZir (BZ), BeautyZir Technology) to a clinically established LS2 material (IPS e.max CAD (EMAX), Ivoclar Vivadent).
Methods And Materials: The optical properties of the translucency parameter (TP) and opalescence parameter (OP) were obtained with a dental spectrophotometer.
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