Implantable buckled cell-graphene device for diagnosis of muscular disorder

Abstract

Implantable medical device to diagnose muscular disorder by recording electrophysiological signals of muscle tissue has been actively used in clinical medicine. However, mechanical mismatch between conventional rigid wafer-based medical device and soft curvilinear muscle tissue brings a low signal and muscle damage during implantation. Soft and flexible biocompatible medical device for recording signals of muscle tissue while preventing muscle damage during implantation is critical issue in implantable medical device. Here, we developed a soft implantable buckled cell-graphene medical device that can be safely implanted on top of muscle tissue and record electromyographic signals for diagnosis. The buckled cell-graphene is comprised of mesh-patterned graphene electrodes on buckled topology of polydimethylsiloxane with C2C12 myoblast sheet placed on top of the electrodes. The buckled topology was constructed via controlling the thickness of polyimide membrane which is placed on below of the electrodes. The buckled topology results cell alignment of C2C12 myoblast mimicking a nature orientation of muscle tissue. Mesh-patterned graphene electrodes serve as a cell culture substrate enhancing proliferation and differentiation of the cells, while serving as eletromyography sensor to record electrophysiological signals of muscle tissue in vivo. Additionally, C2C12 myoblast of cell-graphene device provides cellular therapeutic effect during in vivo implantation without immune response.