Layered Nanocomposite for Neural Prosthetic Devices.

Abstract

The motivation of this dissertation is developing neural prosthetic devices for chronic brain-computer interface. To maintain a chronically sustainable brain-computer interface, implantable devices should have minimal chronic inflammation, mechanically compliance with neural tissue, and long term durability under physiological conditions. Traditional neural prosthetic devices can seldom fulfill these requirements. This dissertation presents a nanocomposite approach to design the next generation neural prosthetic devices. The rationally designed nanocomposite can achieve the combination of the desired material properties for neural prosthetic devices, currently unattainable by traditional materials. In this dissertation, we first fabricated a mechanically compliant neural electrode from carbon nanotubes. The seamless integration of carbon nanotubes and polymer offered both mechanical flexibility and electrical conductivity for neural prosthetic devices. Then we explored other nanomaterials to design more exceptional nanocomposites. The gold nanoparticle nanocomposite developed in this research outperformed carbon nanotube composite in term of electrochemical performance. Additionally, we utilized the nanocomposite approach to design flexible insulation material for implantable electronic. By combining aramid nanofibers and epoxy resin, the composite material has outstanding adhesion and biocompatibility. Lastly, we designed a microfabrication process to combine gold nanoparticle composite and aramid nanofiber composite to create tissue compliant and high performance neural electrodes.