Soft, Multifunctional MXene-Coated Fiber Microelectrodes for Biointerfacing.
Lingyi BiRaghav GargNatalia NoriegaRuocun John WangHyunho KimKseniia VorotiloJustin C BurrellChristopher Eugene ShuckFlavia VitaleBhavik Anil PatelYury GogotsiPublished in: ACS nano (2024)
Flexible fiber-based microelectrodes allow safe and chronic investigation and modulation of electrically active cells and tissues. Compared to planar electrodes, they enhance targeting precision while minimizing side effects from the device-tissue mechanical mismatch. However, the current manufacturing methods face scalability, reproducibility, and handling challenges, hindering large-scale deployment. Furthermore, only a few designs can record electrical and biochemical signals necessary for understanding and interacting with complex biological systems. In this study, we present a method that utilizes the electrical conductivity and easy processability of MXenes, a diverse family of two-dimensional nanomaterials, to apply a thin layer of MXene coating continuously to commercial nylon filaments (30-300 μm in diameter) at a rapid speed (up to 15 mm/s), achieving a linear resistance below 10 Ω/cm. The MXene-coated filaments are then batch-processed into free-standing fiber microelectrodes with excellent flexibility, durability, and consistent performance even when knotted. We demonstrate the electrochemical properties of these fiber electrodes and their hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) sensing capability and showcase their applications in vivo (rodent) and ex vivo (bladder tissue). This scalable process fabricates high-performance microfiber electrodes that can be easily customized and deployed in diverse bioelectronic monitoring and stimulation studies, contributing to a deeper understanding of health and disease.
Keyphrases
- hydrogen peroxide
- induced apoptosis
- solid state
- healthcare
- reduced graphene oxide
- drug delivery
- cancer therapy
- nitric oxide
- gene expression
- gold nanoparticles
- carbon nanotubes
- mental health
- spinal cord injury
- high resolution
- signaling pathway
- cell proliferation
- endoplasmic reticulum stress
- health information
- health promotion
- optical coherence tomography
- drug induced