LAUSR

Bioelectronic devices, interfacing neural tissue for therapeutic, diagnostic or rehabilitation purposes, rely on small electrode contacts in order to achieve highly sophisticated communication at the neural interface. Reliable recording and safe stimulation with small electrodes however are limited when conventional electrode metallizations are used, demanding the development of new materials to enable future progress within bioelectronics. In this study we present a versatile process for the realization of nanostructured platinum (nanoPt) coatings with high electrochemically active surface area, showing promising biocompatibility and providing low impedance, high charge injection capacity and outstanding long-term stability both for recording and stimulation. The proposed electrochemical fabrication process offers exceptional control over the nanoPt deposition, allowing the realization of specific coating morphologies such as small grains, pyramids or nano-flakes, and can moreover be scaled up to wafer-level or batch fabrication under economic process conditions. The suitability of nanoPt as a coating for neural interfaces is here demonstrated, in vitro as well as in vivo, revealing superior stimulation performance under chronic conditions. NanoPt thus offers promising qualities as an advanced neural interface coating which moreover extend to numerous application fields where a large (electro-)chemically active surface area contributes to increased efficiency.