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A comparison of polymer substrates for photolithographic processing of flexible bioelectronics

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Abstract

Flexible bioelectronics encompass a new generation of sensing devices, in which controlled interactions with tissue enhance understanding of biological processes in vivo. However, the fabrication of such thin film electronics with photolithographic processes remains a challenge for many biocompatible polymers. Recently, two shape memory polymer (SMP) systems, based on acrylate and thiol-ene/acrylate networks, were designed as substrates for softening neural interfaces with glass transitions above body temperature (37 °C) such that the materials are stiff for insertion into soft tissue and soften through low moisture absorption in physiological conditions. These two substrates, acrylate and thiol-ene/acrylate SMPs, are compared to polyethylene naphthalate, polycarbonate, polyimide, and polydimethylsiloxane, which have been widely used in flexible electronics research and industry. These six substrates are compared via dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and swelling studies. The integrity of gold and chromium/gold thin films on SMP substrates are evaluated with optical profilometry and electrical measurements as a function of processing temperature above, below and through the glass transition temperature. The effects of crosslink density, adhesion and cure stress are shown to play a critical role in the stability of these thin film materials, and a guide for the future design of responsive polymeric materials suitable for neural interfaces is proposed. Finally, neural interfaces fabricated on thiol-ene/acrylate substrates demonstrate long-term fidelity through both in vitro impedance spectroscopy and the recording of driven local field potentials for 8 weeks in the auditory cortex of laboratory rats.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the FDA for the use of the Bruker Contour GT-K1 3D Optical Microscope. The opinions and/or conclusions expressed are solely those of the authors and in no way imply a policy or position of the Food and Drug Administration. This material is based partially based upon work supported from several sources: the National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke 5R01DC008982; the National Science Foundation Partnerships for Innovation and Graduate Research Fellowship under Grant No. 1147385; FUSION support from the State of Texas.

Author declaration

“Syzygy Memory Plastics, Inc. funds undergraduate research in the Advanced Polymers Research Laboratory (APRL) at the University of Texas at Dallas. Taylor Ware and Walter Voit have a significant financial interest in Syzygy Memory Plastics, Inc. This financial interest has been disclosed to UT Dallas and a conflict of interest management plan is in place to manage the potential conflict of interest associated with this research program.”

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell RD, Mailstop RL 10, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA

    Dustin Simon, Taylor Ware, Matthew Di Prima & Walter Voit

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell RD, Mailstop RL 10, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA

    Walter Voit

  3. Department of Electrical Engineering, MS: EC 33, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell RD, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA

    Ryan Marcotte

  4. Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell RD, BE 26, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA

    Benjamin R. Lund & Dennis W. Smith Jr.

  5. School of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, GR 41, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell RD, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA

    Robert L. Rennaker

  6. Food and Drug Administration, CDRH/OSEL/DSFM, WO62, Room 2214, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA

    Matthew Di Prima

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  1. Dustin Simon
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Correspondence to Walter Voit.

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Simon, D., Ware, T., Marcotte, R. et al. A comparison of polymer substrates for photolithographic processing of flexible bioelectronics. Biomed Microdevices 15, 925–939 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10544-013-9782-8

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