Structurally engineered ultrasoft PEDOT:PSS fiber microelectrodes with enhanced electrochemical performance for neural interfaces

Abstract

Stable and reliable neural interfacing is essential for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic neurological disorders. Flexible neural probes are particularly important for this purpose, as they minimize tissue damage and inflammatory responses while maintaining stable electrode-tissue coupling; however, achieving both high electrical performance and tissue-like mechanics remains challenging. Here, we present a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) fiber microelectrode (PFME), an all-organic neural probe capable of recording single-neuron activities with potential for long-term interfacing. The PFME is entirely composed of organic components and fabricated without thermal processing. In addition, the posttreatment process enables to selectively remove PSS binder networks while promoting PEDOT chain alignment to optimize mechanical compliance and electrochemical performance. In vivo, the PFME enables stable single-unit recordings from the mouse hippocampus. Histological analysis after 1 week of implantation reveals minimal glial activation comparable to that elicited by a conventional probe. This structurally engineered PFME establishes a pathway to achieve minimally invasive neural interfacing platforms for chronic applications.