Stretchable, dynamic covalent polymers for soft, long-lived bioresorbable electronic stimulators designed to facilitate neuromuscular regeneration

Yeon Sik Choi, Yuan-Yu Hsueh, Jahyun Koo, Quansan Yang, Raudel Avila, Buwei Hu, Zhaoqian Xie, Geumbee Lee, Zheng Ning, Claire Liu, Yameng Xu, Young Joong Lee, Weikang Zhao, Jun Fang, Yujun Deng, Seung Min Lee, Abraham Vázquez-Guardado, Iwona Stepien, Ying Yan, Joseph W. Song, Chad Haney, Yong Suk Oh, Wentai Liu, Hong-Joon Yoon, Anthony Banks, Matthew R. MacEwan, Guillermo A. Ameer, Wilson Z. Ray, Yonggang Huang, Tao Xie, Colin K. Franz, Song Li () and John A. Rogers ()
Additional contact information
Yeon Sik Choi: Northwestern University
Yuan-Yu Hsueh: University of California, Los Angeles
Jahyun Koo: Northwestern University
Quansan Yang: Northwestern University
Raudel Avila: Northwestern University
Buwei Hu: University of California, Los Angeles
Zhaoqian Xie: University of Technology
Geumbee Lee: Northwestern University
Zheng Ning: Zhejiang University
Claire Liu: Northwestern University
Yameng Xu: Northwestern University
Young Joong Lee: Northwestern University
Weikang Zhao: University of California, Los Angeles
Jun Fang: University of California, Los Angeles
Yujun Deng: Northwestern University
Seung Min Lee: Northwestern University
Abraham Vázquez-Guardado: Northwestern University
Iwona Stepien: Northwestern University
Ying Yan: Washington University School of Medicine
Joseph W. Song: Northwestern University
Chad Haney: Northwestern University
Yong Suk Oh: Northwestern University
Wentai Liu: University of California, Los Angeles
Hong-Joon Yoon: Northwestern University
Anthony Banks: Northwestern University
Matthew R. MacEwan: Washington University School of Medicine
Guillermo A. Ameer: Northwestern University
Wilson Z. Ray: Washington University School of Medicine
Yonggang Huang: Northwestern University
Tao Xie: Zhejiang University
Colin K. Franz: Regenerative Neurorehabilitation Laboratory, Biologics, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Song Li: University of California, Los Angeles
John A. Rogers: Northwestern University

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Abstract Bioresorbable electronic stimulators are of rapidly growing interest as unusual therapeutic platforms, i.e., bioelectronic medicines, for treating disease states, accelerating wound healing processes and eliminating infections. Here, we present advanced materials that support operation in these systems over clinically relevant timeframes, ultimately bioresorbing harmlessly to benign products without residues, to eliminate the need for surgical extraction. Our findings overcome key challenges of bioresorbable electronic devices by realizing lifetimes that match clinical needs. The devices exploit a bioresorbable dynamic covalent polymer that facilitates tight bonding to itself and other surfaces, as a soft, elastic substrate and encapsulation coating for wireless electronic components. We describe the underlying features and chemical design considerations for this polymer, and the biocompatibility of its constituent materials. In devices with optimized, wireless designs, these polymers enable stable, long-lived operation as distal stimulators in a rat model of peripheral nerve injuries, thereby demonstrating the potential of programmable long-term electrical stimulation for maintaining muscle receptivity and enhancing functional recovery.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19660-6

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