Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2015, Vol. 10 ›› Issue (12): 2048-2053.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.172325

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Polyurethane/poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel coating improves the cytocompatibility of neural electrodes

Mei Li1, Hai-han Zhou2, Tao Li3, Cheng-yan Li3, Zhong-yuan Xia1, *, Yanwen Y. Duan4, *   

  1. 1 Department of Anesthesiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
    2 Institute of Molecular Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China
    3 Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
    4 College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
  • Received:2015-10-21 Online:2015-12-30 Published:2015-12-30
  • Contact: Zhong-yuan Xia, M.D. or Yanwen Y. Duan, Ph.D., xiazhongyuan2005@aliyun.com or yduan@whu.edu.cn.
  • Supported by:

    This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81170768; a grant from the Fundamental Research Project of Shanxi Province of China, No. 2015021079.

PDF

723

Abstract:

Neural electrodes, the core component of neural prostheses, are usually encapsulated in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). However, PDMS can generate a tissue response after implantation. Based on the physicochemical properties and excellent biocompatibility of polyurethane (PU) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) when used as coating materials, we synthesized PU/PVA hydrogel coatings and coated the surface of PDMS using plasma treatment, and the cytocompatibility
to rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells was assessed. Protein adsorption tests indicated that the amount of protein adsorption onto the PDMS substrate was reduced by 92% after coating with the hydrogel. Moreover, the PC12 cells on the PU/PVA-coated PDMS showed higher cell density and longer and more numerous neurites than those on the uncoated PDMS. These results indicate that the PU/PVA hydrogel is cytocompatible and a promising coating material for neural electrodes to improve their biocompatibility.

Key words: