Article
Fabrication of COC-based neural electrodes and performance evaluation via ex-vivo stimulation of mouse retinal cells
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Authors
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Taekyung Lee
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Seoul National University, Korea
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S. Hwang
- Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Korea
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J. Lee
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Seoul National University, Korea
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J. Seo
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Seoul National University, Korea; Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Korea
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S. Jun
- Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Korea; Graduate Program in Smart Factory, Ewha Womans University, Korea; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Korea
| Published: | May 9, 2025 |
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Outline
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Objective: To develop biocompatible and long-term stable neural electrodes for use in retinal prosthetics. These electrodes are evaluated through ex-vivo stimulation using to ensure their performance
Materials and Methods: COC (cyclic olefin copolymer) is transparent, biocompatible, and has a low water absorption rate, making it suitable for long-term implantation without damaging internal circuits or electrodes. Initially, COC exists in pellet form and is converted into films using a T-die casting. The films are then patterned into electrodes via photolithography. The electrodes are laminated and packaged using a hydraulic hot press. These completed electrodes are evaluated through ex vivo stimulation experiments.
Results: The fabricated electrode consists of 16 well-packaged electrode sites, each with a diameter of 250 µm. The ex-vivo stimulation successfully demonstrated the functionality of the electrodes.
Discussion: The number of electrode sites is relatively low, which presents a limitation for direct application in retinal prosthetics. It is necessary to increase the resolution by adding more electrode sites.
Acknowledgment: This research was supported by a grant of the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), funded by the Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (grant number : RS-2023-00304861).
