Penetrating recording microelectrode arrays are a crucial component of numerous human neuroprosthetics. Obtaining selective, high fidelity, long-lasting readouts of brain activity is a critical technology across basic and applied neuroscience that impacts learning and memory studies as well as motor, pre-motor, and visual cortex neuroprostheses and brain-computer interfaces. However, implantation of cortical microelectrodes causes a reactive tissue response, which results in a degradation of the preferred functional single-unit performance over time, thus limiting the device capabilities. Insertion of neural probes or microelectrodes inevitably disrupts the blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity and causes microhemorrhages that have been shown to trigger the inflammatory tissue response cascade. The degree of microhemorrhaging from probe insertion has been shown to be uncontrollable and difficult to reproduce across implants, mirroring the large variability in inflammatory tissue responses and chronic recording success. We hypothesize that the level of BBB damage impacts chronic neural recording quality. This proposal aims to characterize the sustained BBB breakdown and chronic recording failure in vivo caused by the insertion induced BBB disruption and BBB occlusion by quantifying structural, cellular, and molecular level tissue response to chronic implants in the brain in real time through combining multiphoton imaging technology and neural engineering technology at the University of Pittsburgh. A dynamic understanding of the interfaces is necessary for elucidating the mechanism(s) behind neural recording failure. This work has the potential to output basic and clinical science level knowledge relevant to neural engineering, ischemia, stroke, intracortical hemorrhage, aneurysm, traumatic brain injury, and closed-loop neurostimulation.

Public Health Relevance

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction has an important role in cellular damage in neurological diseases and brain injuries. This proposal details an innovative in vivo imaging technology that will explore how BBB injury causes negative tissue response to neural probes and therefore improve future probe designs.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS094396-02
Application #
9134870
Study Section
Bioengineering of Neuroscience, Vision and Low Vision Technologies Study Section (BNVT)
Program Officer
Langhals, Nick B
Project Start
2015-09-01
Project End
2020-08-31
Budget Start
2016-09-01
Budget End
2017-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2016
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pittsburgh
Department
Biomedical Engineering
Type
Biomed Engr/Col Engr/Engr Sta
DUNS #
004514360
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
15213
Michelson, Nicholas J; Vazquez, Alberto L; Eles, James R et al. (2018) Multi-scale, multi-modal analysis uncovers complex relationship at the brain tissue-implant neural interface: new emphasis on the biological interface. J Neural Eng 15:033001
Cody, Patrick A; Eles, James R; Lagenaur, Carl F et al. (2018) Unique electrophysiological and impedance signatures between encapsulation types: An analysis of biological Utah array failure and benefit of a biomimetic coating in a rat model. Biomaterials 161:117-128
Golabchi, Asiyeh; Wu, Bingchen; Li, Xia et al. (2018) Melatonin improves quality and longevity of chronic neural recording. Biomaterials 180:225-239
Iordanova, Bistra; Vazquez, Alberto; Kozai, Takashi Dy et al. (2018) Optogenetic investigation of the variable neurovascular coupling along the interhemispheric circuits. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 38:627-640
Eles, James R; Vazquez, Alberto L; Kozai, Takashi D Y et al. (2018) In vivo imaging of neuronal calcium during electrode implantation: Spatial and temporal mapping of damage and recovery. Biomaterials 174:79-94
Wellman, Steven M; Kozai, Takashi D Y (2018) In vivo spatiotemporal dynamics of NG2 glia activity caused by neural electrode implantation. Biomaterials 164:121-133
Wellman, Steven M; Eles, James R; Ludwig, Kip A et al. (2018) A Materials Roadmap to Functional Neural Interface Design. Adv Funct Mater 28:
Vazquez, Alberto L; Fukuda, Mitsuhiro; Kim, Seong-Gi (2018) Inhibitory Neuron Activity Contributions to Hemodynamic Responses and Metabolic Load Examined Using an Inhibitory Optogenetic Mouse Model. Cereb Cortex 28:4105-4119
Eles, James R; Vazquez, Alberto L; Snyder, Noah R et al. (2017) Neuroadhesive L1 coating attenuates acute microglial attachment to neural electrodes as revealed by live two-photon microscopy. Biomaterials 113:279-292
Salatino, Joseph W; Ludwig, Kip A; Kozai, Takashi D Y et al. (2017) Glial responses to implanted electrodes in the brain. Nat Biomed Eng 1:862-877

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