Cellular Responses to Micromachined Neuroprosthetic Device Insertion into the Brain

Abstract

Insertion of prosthetic device is elicits reactive responses from both nervous tissue and vasculature that prevent successful integration of these devices. Their chronic use is limited due to glial encapsulation that electrically isolates devices from cellular networks. We examined time-dependent changes of reactive responses in neocortex, hippocampus, and thalamus using immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy. Results show dramatic differences in the magnitude of cellular response in different brain regions and time-courses. These experiments will provide important new information for the design of improved biomaterials and nano/micro-device to control dynamic biological events in the central nervous system.