In vitro and in vivo biostability assessment of chronically-implanted Parylene C neural sensors

Abstract Parylene C has rapidly gained attention as a flexible biomaterial for a new generation of chronic neural probes. However, polymeric material failure in the form of delamination, swelling or tearing, often compromises device biostability in the long term. This work constitutes a first step towards lifetime assessment of Parylene C implanted devices. We have conceived a Parylene C-based neural probe with PEDOT-nanostructured gold electrodes for the recording of brain activity. The material response to its biological environment was studied through in vitro soaking tests and in vivo wireless recordings in mice brain, both carried out for up to 6 months. Impedance monitoring and SEM images indicate that over the length of this trial, none of the implants presented with apparent signs of material degradation. Packaging reliability was a predominant factor in device failure, with a certain number of faulty connection appearing over time. This parameter aside, all soaked devices were stable in Artificial Cerebro-Spinal Fluid, with impedances within 10% of their initial value after 6 months at 37 °C. Besides, at least 70% of the implanted device were able to accurately record wirelessly high amplitude hippocampal Local Field Potentials from freely-moving mice, with steady Signal-to-Noise Ratio. In other terms, Parylene C implantable sensors responded minimally to artificial and actual physiological conditions during a period of 6 months, which makes them promising candidates for reliable, chronically implanted sensors in the biomedical field.