Anisotropic hydrogel microelectrodes for intraspinal neural recordings in vivo

Sizhe Huang, Ruobai Xiao, Shaoting Lin, Zuer Wu, Chen Lin, Geunho Jang, Eunji Hong, Shovit Gupta, Fake Lu, Bo Chen, Xinyue Liu, Atharva Sahasrabudhe, Zicong Zhang, Zhigang He, Alfred J. Crosby, Kaushal Sumaria, Tingyi Liu, Qianbin Wang () and Siyuan Rao ()
Additional contact information
Sizhe Huang: State University of New York at Binghamton
Ruobai Xiao: State University of New York at Binghamton
Shaoting Lin: Michigan State University
Zuer Wu: State University of New York at Binghamton
Chen Lin: State University of New York at Binghamton
Geunho Jang: State University of New York at Binghamton
Eunji Hong: State University of New York at Binghamton
Shovit Gupta: State University of New York at Binghamton
Fake Lu: State University of New York at Binghamton
Bo Chen: The University of Texas Medical Branch
Xinyue Liu: Michigan State University
Atharva Sahasrabudhe: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Zicong Zhang: Boston Children’s Hospital
Zhigang He: Boston Children’s Hospital
Alfred J. Crosby: University of Massachusetts
Kaushal Sumaria: University of Massachusetts
Tingyi Liu: University of Massachusetts
Qianbin Wang: State University of New York at Binghamton
Siyuan Rao: State University of New York at Binghamton

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: Abstract Creating durable, motion-compliant neural interfaces is crucial for accessing dynamic tissues under in vivo conditions and linking neural activity with behaviors. Utilizing the self-alignment of nano-fillers in a polymeric matrix under repetitive tension, here, we introduce conductive carbon nanotubes with high aspect ratios into semi-crystalline polyvinyl alcohol hydrogels, and create electrically anisotropic percolation pathways through cyclic stretching. The resulting anisotropic hydrogel fibers (diameter of 187 ± 13 µm) exhibit fatigue resistance (up to 20,000 cycles at 20% strain) with a stretchability of 64.5 ± 7.9% and low electrochemical impedance (33.20 ± 9.27 kΩ @ 1 kHz in 1 cm length). We observe the reconstructed nanofillers’ axial alignment and a corresponding anisotropic impedance decrease along the direction of cyclic stretching. We fabricate fiber-shaped hydrogels into bioelectronic devices and implant them into wild-type and transgenic Thy1::ChR2-EYFP mice to record electromyographic signals from muscles in anesthetized and freely moving conditions. These hydrogel fibers effectively enable the simultaneous recording of electrical signals from ventral spinal cord neurons and the tibialis anterior muscles during optogenetic stimulation. Importantly, the devices maintain functionality in intraspinal electrophysiology recordings over eight months after implantation, demonstrating their durability and potential for long-term monitoring in neurophysiological studies.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56450-4

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