Neural electrodes are typically manufactured from inorganic materials, however, mechanical mismatch leads to local tissue inflammation and encapsulation in scar tissue that impedes the successful function of the electrode. Developing neural electrodes with biomimetic chemical and mechanical properties is highly attractive as it may facilitate the widespread use of such electronic devices. Conducting polymer-based biomaterials have tuneable mechanical properties and can be used for: Control cell behaviour (neuromodulation, tissue engineering), Drug delivery (triggered upon the application of a stimulus), Sensing (to detect chemical species or electrical signals).
The project will employ an inherently interdisciplinary approach to develop conducting polymer-based biomaterials for application as neural electrodes capable of stimulating/recording neural activity. Multiphoton fabrication (also known as multiphoton lithography, multiphoton polymerization or direct laser writing) allows the construction of materials with features with a sub-100 nm resolution. Hardy and Edwards reported the first example of multiphoton fabrication of 2D conducting polymer biomaterials (polypyrrole and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), on a glass substrate) capable of electrically-triggered drug delivery, and acting as an electrode capable of stimulating neurons in the brain ex vivo.