Nanostructured materials for neural electrodes: hybrids of iridium oxide with graphene, nanotubes or conducting polymers

Trabajo presentado en la 5th Zing Conference in BioNanomaterials, celebrada en Carvoeiro, Portugal, del 25 al 28 de abril de 2015Intercalation materials that have been shown biocompatible in neural systems, are nanostructured for their use as electrodes. As the materials undergo faradaic reactions themselves, upon electric field application, they prevent radical formation and interfacial heating, while allowing cell growth and full functionality. Iridium oxide, IrOx, and conducting polymers are the basic materials that have been hybridized with carbon nanotubes, graphene, and graphite, graphene oxide and conducting PEDOT and polypyrrole polymers, in various forms1-5. Electrodeposition mechanisms are elucidated, while control of the multiple variables have allowed to reach optimal preprations on platinum. Charge storage capacities are increased in different magnitudes, while a clear difference is observed for some of the polymeric materials in terms of biocompatibility. Optimal behavior of cells is always observed on IrOx based materials, with respect to blank glass or platinum, while graphene and carbon nanotubes hybrids of IrOx are among the ones with best charge storage capacities an lower impedance up to middle frequencies.Peer Reviewe