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In Vitro and In Vivo Biocompatibility Testing of Silicon Carbide for Neural Interfaces

Date

2014-08

Authors

Knaack, Gretchen Linnea

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Abstract

This dissertation demonstrates the biocompatibility of amorphous silicon carbide for implementation with neural interfaces. To evaluate this capacity in vitro, frontal cortex networks cultured on microelectrode arrays were established and assessed pharmacologically by investigating the neurotoxic effects of ω-agatoxin. This valuable platform was then implemented as a functional compliment for the live/dead assay to test biomaterials in more sensitive manner. Finally, this assay was utilized to test the biocompatibility of different variations of silicon carbide for the possible use with neural interfaces. Since amorphous silicon carbide did not reduce spontaneous network firing rate in vitro, it was then examined in vivo. Standard silicon devices were coated with a thin film of amorphous silicon carbide and simultaneously implanted with silicon devices into the primary motor cortex of rats for either four or eight weeks. The neuroinflammatory reaction was then compared between the materials through device capture immunohistochemistry. NeuN, GFAP, CD68 and DAPI all displayed an increase in labeling from four to eight weeks of implantation. The more intense fluorescence of CD68 and DAPI at eight weeks was only located at distances proximal to devices, whereas NeuN and GFAP exhibited an overall enhancement. However, a decrease in NeuN labeling was still observed within 0-30µm of the device irrespective of the implant duration. Although these findings were independent of material, tissue implanted with amorphous silicon carbide did have a reduction of GFAP labeling within 0-10µm compared to tissue implanted with silicon. This occurred regardless of implant time. The in vitro and in vivo data jointly support the notion that the addition of amorphous silicon carbide to the standard silicon probe is biocompatible and decreases the neuroinflammatory response to cortical implants by reducing the intensity of GFAP adjacent to the device.

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Keywords

Neurosciences, Biomedical engineering, Biocompatibility, Neural Interface, Neuroinflammation, Silicon Carbide

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