Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Protein adsorption on materials for recording sites on implantable microelectrodes

  • Published:
Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Implantable microelectrodes have the potential to become part of neural prostheses to restore lost nerve function after nerve damage. The initial adsorption of proteins to materials for implantable microelectrodes is an important factor in determining the longevity and stability of the implant. Once an implant is in the body, protein adsorption takes place almost instantly before the cells reach the surface of an implant. The aim of this study was to identify an optimum material for electrode recording sites on implantable microelectrodes. Common materials for electrode sites are gold, platinum, iridium, and indium tin oxide. These, along with a reference material (titanium), were investigated. The thickness and the structure of adsorbed proteins on these materials were measured using a combination of atomic force microscopy and ellipsometry. The adsorbed protein layers on gold (after 7 and 28 days of exposure to serum) were the smoothest and the thinnest compared to all the other substrate materials, indicating that gold is the material of choice for electrode recording sites on implantable microelectrodes. However, the results also show that indium tin oxide might also be a good choice for these applications.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. P. HEIDUSCHKA and S. THANOS, Prog. Neurobio. 55 (1998) 433–461

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. P. H. PECHHAM, J. T. MORTIMER and E. B. MARSOLAIS, Ann. Biomed. Eng. 8 (1980) 369–388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. G. ENSELL, D. J. BANKS, D. J. EWINS, W. BALACHANDRAN and P. R. RICHARDS, J. Microelectromech. Sys. 5 (1996) 117–121

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. G. ENSELL, D. J. BANKS, P. R. RICHARDS, W. BALACHANDRAN and D. J. EWINS, Med. Biol. Eng. Comp. 38 (2000) 175–179

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. P. J. ROUSCHE and R. A. NORMAN, J. Neurosci. Meth. 82 (1998) 1–15

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. J. D. ANDRADE and V. HLADY, Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 516 (1987) 158–172

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. M. WAHLGREN and T. ARNEBRANT, Tibtech 9 (1991) 201–208

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. D. F. WILLIAMS, I. N. ASKILL and R. J. SMITH, Biomed. Mater. Res. 19 (1985) 313–320

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. S. L. BEMENT, K. D. WISE, D. J. ANDERSON, K. NAJAFI and K. L. DRAKE, IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng. 33(1986) 230–241

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. D. J. EDELL, IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng. 33 (1986) 203–214

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. K. L. DRAKE, K. D. WISE, J. FARRAYE, D. J. ANDERSON and S. L. BEMENT, IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng. 35 (1988) 719–732

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. A. JONZON, E. N. LARSSON, P. A. OBERG and G. SEDIN, Med. Biol. Eng. Comp. 26 (1988) 624–627

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. J. ROZMAN, B. PIHLAR, P. STROJNIK and J. SCAND, Rehab. Med. Suppl. 17 (1988) 99–103

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. D. J. ANDERSON, K. NAJAFI, S. J. TANGHE, D. A. EVANS, K. L. LEVY, J. F. HETKE, X. XUE, J. J. JAPPIA and K. D. WISE, IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng. 36 (1989) 693–704

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. K. NAJAFI, J. JI and K. D. WISE, IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng. 37 (1990) 1–10

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. N. A. BLUM, G. CARKHUFF, H. K. CHARLES, R. L. EDWARDS and R. MEYER IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng. 38 (1991) 68–74

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. R. M. BRADLEY, R. H. SMOKE, T. AKIN and K. NAJAFI, Brain Res. 594 (1992) 84–90

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. D. J. EDELL, V. V. TOI, V. M. MCNEIL and L. D. CLARK IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng. 39 (1992) 635–643

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. A. C. HOOGERWERF and K. D. WISE, IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng. 41 (1994) 1136–1146

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. C. KIM and K. D. WISE, IEEE J. Slid-State Circuits 31 (1996) 1230–1238

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. D. T. KEWLEY, M. D. HILLS, D. A. BORKHOLDER, I. E. OPRIS, N. I. MALUF, C. W. STORMENT, J. M. BOWER and G. T. A. KOVACS, Sens. Actuat. A. 58 (1997) 27–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. A. LITKE and M. MEISTER, Nucl. Instrum. Meth. Phys. Res. A- Acc. Spectrom. Detect. Assoc. Equip. 310 (1991) 389–394

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Y. JIMBO and A. KAWANA, Bioelectroch. Bioener. 29 (1992) 193–204

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. G. W. GROSS, B. K. RHOADES, D. L. REUST and F. U. J. SCHWALM, Neurosci. Meth. 50 (1993) 131–143

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. M. GRATTAROLA, M. BOVE, G. VERRESCHI, S. MARTINOLA, M. TEDESCO and S. CHIARUGI, Minerva Biotecnol. 7 (1995) 228–233

    Google Scholar 

  26. K. V. GOPAL and G. W. GROSS, Acta Oto-Laryngologica 116 (1996) 690–696

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. M. M. KLINGER, F. RAHEMTULLA, C. W. PRINCE, L. C. LUCAS and J. E. LEMONS, Crit. Rev. Oral Biol. Med. 9 (1998) 449–463

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. E. BESS, R. CAVIN, K. MA and J. L. ONG, Implant Dent. 8 (1999) 126–32

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. F. HÖÖK, J. VÖRÖS, M. RODAHL, R. KURRAT, P. BÖNI, J. J. RAMSDEN, M. TEXTOR, N. D. SPENCER, P. TENGVALL, J. GOLD and B. KASEMO, Colloid. Surfaces B. 24 (2002) 155–170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Y. YANG, R. CAVIN and J. L. ONG, J Biomed. Mater. Res. 67A (2003) 344–349

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. R. M. A. AZZAM and N. M. BASHARA, “Ellipsometry and polarised light” (North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1977)

  32. J. L. KEDDIE, Curr. Opin. Coll. Interf. Sci. 6 (2001) 102–110

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. B. PARBHOO, S. IZRAEL, J. M. SALAMANCA and J. L. KEDDIE, Surf. Interf. Anal. 29 (2000) 341–345

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. T. A. HORBETT and J. L. BRASH in “Proteins at interfaces: physicochemical and biochemical studies”. J. L. BRASH, T. A. HORBETT Eds. (ACS, Washington, DC, 1987) pp 1–36

    Google Scholar 

  35. J. D. ANDRADE and V. HLADY, Adv. Polym. Sci. 79 (1986) 1–63

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. T. A. HORBETT and J. L. BRASH, (1995) ACS symposium series 602, Washington, DC

  37. T. P. BURGHARDT and D. AXELROD, Biophys. J. 33 (1981) 455–467

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. R. D. TILTON, C. R. ROBERTSON and A. P. J. GAST, J. Colloid Interf. Sci. 137 (1990) 192–203

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the EPSRC for a scholarship for JS. The authors also wish to thank Dr Geoff Hill at the University of Sheffield, EPSRC central facility for III–V semiconductors for thin film preparation, and Dr Peter Zhdan for assistance with the AFM, and Prof John Watts for valuable discussions.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Jamunanithy Selvakumaran

    Present address: Department of Materials, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, UK

    Jamunanithy Selvakumaran, David J. Ewins & Michael Pycraft Hughes

  2. Department of Physics, School of Electronics and Physical Science, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, UK

    Joseph L. Keddie

Authors
  1. Jamunanithy Selvakumaran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Joseph L. Keddie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. David J. Ewins
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Michael Pycraft Hughes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael Pycraft Hughes.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Selvakumaran, J., Keddie, J.L., Ewins, D.J. et al. Protein adsorption on materials for recording sites on implantable microelectrodes. J Mater Sci: Mater Med 19, 143–151 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-007-3110-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-007-3110-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation