A soft electrode array with reconfigurable hydrogel interfaces for high-fidelity neurophysiological monitoring during craniotomy
Abstract
Achieving accurate monitoring of electrophysiological activity from the brain cortex is critical for preventing postoperative neurological deficits during craniotomy. However, current technologies face profound challenges in enabling consistent high-quality neural signal acquisition due to complex intracranial environments (e.g., wet/fragile brain surfaces and surgical instrument interference). Here, we develop a soft electrode array with reconfigurable hydrogel interfaces for sustainable high-fidelity monitoring of electrophysiological states from the functional brain cortex throughout neurosurgical procedures. Specifically, we propose a solution-triggered reconfiguration strategy to implement the repeated disassembly/replacement of hydrogel interface layers on electrodes, ensuring consistently superior recording and stimulation properties. Furthermore, through modification with cationic hydrogel microspheres, the hydrogel interface demonstrates strengthened wet adhesion and antiswelling performances, creating robust hydrogel/brain coupling to minimize motion artifacts. In craniotomy of animal models, the electrode array maintains low impedance and high signal-to-noise ratio during repeated repositioning tests through hydrogel interface reconfiguration. In traumatic brain injury models, the electrode array can record consistent high-quality somatosensory evoked potential with dynamic tracking of potential amplitude and latency changes in sensory areas. Quantitative assessments in nerve block experiments verify that the soft electrode array can efficiently elicit motor evoked potentials in motor areas with low stimulation currents. The proposed soft electrode array represents a promising platform for sustainable high-fidelity electrophysiological monitoring. The hydrogel interface design strategy provides an effective approach for developing reconfigurable devices in biomedical applications.
Article Details
Journal Info
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
National Academy of Sciences
Authors (15)
Ganguang Yang
Flexible Electronics Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Bo Pang
Hangyu Gong
Flexible Electronics Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Yuqi Qiu
Flexible Electronics Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Caixin Gong
Flexible Electronics Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Sen Zhou
Flexible Electronics Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Qingyang Zheng
Flexible Electronics Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Zhixin Wang
Nanjing University , , ,
Tianzhao Bu
Flexible Electronics Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Shabei Xu
Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Xiang Luo
Ophthalmology Medical Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory for the Prevention and Treatment of Major Blinding Eye Diseases, Chongqing Branch (Municipality Division) of National Clinical Research Centre for Ocular Diseases
Haiyan Qiao
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore
Zhouping Yin
Flexible Electronics Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Changsheng Wu
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore
Hao Wu