Anisotropic hydrogel microelectrodes for intraspinal neural recordings in vivo

Huang S, Xiao R, et al.

Nature Communications

State University of New York at Binghamton, Michigan State University, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Boston Children's Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States

RESEARCH SUMMARY

The study engineers carbon‑nanotube (CNT)–reinforced poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogel fibers whose conductivity becomes anisotropic after cyclic stretching (TRAIN strategy). CNT alignment lowers specific impedance (e.g., to ~0.10 kΩ·mm at 1 kHz) while maintaining stretchability (~64.5%) and fatigue resistance (up to 20,000 cycles). Miniaturized fiber electrodes recorded EMG in anesthetized and freely moving mice and captured single‑unit ventral spinal cord activity for up to 8 months post‑implantation, showing durable, motion‑compliant neural interfaces.

A Univert (CellScale) mechanical tester with a water bath and 4.4 N load cell was used to apply cyclic stretching (strain‑controlled 5–20% at 0.5 Hz, 5,000–15,000 cycles) to hydrogel fibers/films to induce anisotropic conductivity; subsequently, Univert tensile tests in water at 1 mm s⁻¹ quantified elastic modulus and maximum elongation of hydrogel microelectrodes.

AUTHORS

Sizhe Huang; Ruobai Xiao; Shaoting Lin; Zuer Wu; Chen Lin; Geunho Jang; Eunji Hong; Shovit Gupta; Fake Lu; Bo Chen; Xinyue Liu; Atharva Sahasrabudhe; Zicong Zhang; Zhigang He; Alfred J. Crosby; Kaushal Sumaria; Tingyi Liu; Qianbin Wang; Siyuan Rao.

PUBLICATION DETAILS

JOURNAL

Nature Communications

YEAR

2025

INSTITUTIONS

State University of New York at Binghamton, Michigan State University, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Boston Children's Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

COUNTRIES

United States

INSTRUMENT USED

UniVert

TESTING METHODS

Fatigue TestingHydrated and Temperature Controlled TestingTensile TestingViscoelastic & Time-Dependent Testing

RESEARCH APPLICATIONS

Cell Laden HydrogelsElectroactive and Photothermal PolymersHydrogel Mechanical TestingMaterial Fatigue and DurabilityMechanotransductionNeural Tissue & CNS MechanicsPolymers and Elastomers TestingWearable Bioelectronics

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