Nucleobase-Modified\nAdhesive and Conductive Hydrogel\nInterface for Bioelectronics

Abstract

The\nadvancement of brain–machine interface (BMI) technology\nhas accelerated our understanding of how the brain interacts with\nthe body through sophisticated electrophysiological signal transduction.\nThe development of a next-generation microelectrode for BMI calls\nfor materials with suitable mechanical properties and conductivity\nfor fabricating bioelectronic devices. Hydrogels, known for their\nexceptional biocompatibility, have found widespread applications in\nthe biomedical field. In this context, nucleobase, a fundamental building\nunit of the genetic material, has been introduced into polyacrylamide–poly­(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)\n(PAM–PEDOT) conductive hydrogels. This innovative approach\nnot only enhances the adhesiveness of the hydrogel to substrates due\nto the presence of multiple bonds at the interface but also improves\nthe hydrogel’s conductivity, mitigating the agglomeration of\nPEDOT particles. Moreover, the hydrogel’s modulus is comparable\nto that of the brain tissue, which helps to reduce inflammatory reactions\ncaused by the implantation of foreign bodies. As a result, the hydrogel\nhas been integrated with electrodes, serving as wearable devices,\nelectromyography electrodes, and electrocorticography electrodes,\nexhibiting excellent performance. This method of integrating hydrogel\ninto implantable electrodes has shown promising results in improving\nbiocompatibility and conductivity and minimizing inflammatory responses.\nThis advancement opens up possibilities for enhancing the performance\nand long-term stability of bioelectronic devices, enabling exciting\napplications in the field of BMI.