The brain tissue response to implanted silicon microelectrode arrays is increased when the device is tethered to the skull

TLDR

The study compared the cortical tissue reaction to tethered versus untethered silicon microelectrode arrays over 1–4 weeks. Immunofluorescent analysis with cell‑type markers was used to assess reactivity in implants placed identically but with or without skull tethering. Tethered arrays elicited significantly higher ED1 and GFAP reactivity, increased macrophage layers, and reduced neuronal markers, indicating a stronger foreign body response than untethered devices. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., J Biomed Mater Res, 2007.

Abstract

Abstract The influence of tethering silicon microelectrode arrays on the cortical brain tissue reaction was compared with that of untethered implants placed in the same location by identical means using immunoflourescent methods and cell type specific markers over indwelling periods of 1–4 weeks. Compared with untethered, freely floating implants, tethered microelectrodes elicited significantly greater reactivity to antibodies against ED1 and GFAP over time. Regardless of implantation method or indwelling time, retrieved microelectrodes contained a layer of attached macrophages identified by positive immunoreactivity against ED1. In the tethered condition and in cases where the tissue surrounding untethered implants had the highest levels of ED1+ and GFAP+ immunoreactivity, the neuronal markers for neurofilament 160 and NeuN were reduced. Although the precise mechanisms are unclear, the present study indicates that simply tethering silicon microelectrode arrays to the skull increases the cortical brain tissue response in the recording zone immediately surrounding the microelectrode array, which signals the importance of identifying this important variable when evaluating the tissue response of different device designs, and suggests that untethered or wireless devices may elicit less of a foreign body response. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2007