In vivo recordings of brain activity using organic transistors.

In vivo electrophysiological recordings of neuronal circuits are necessary for diagnostic purposes and for brain-machine interfaces. Organic electronic devices constitute a promising candidate because of their mechanical flexibility and biocompatibility. Here we demonstrate the engineering of an organic electrochemical transistor embedded in an ultrathin organic film designed to record electrophysiological signals on the surface of the brain. The device, tested in vivo on epileptiform discharges, displayed superior signal-to-noise ratio due to local amplification compared with surface electrodes. The organic transistor was able to record on the surface low-amplitude brain activities, which were poorly resolved with surface electrodes. This study introduces a new class of biocompatible, highly flexible devices for recording brain activity with superior signal-to-noise ratio that hold great promise for medical applications

High transconductance organic electrochemical transistors.

The development of transistors with high gain is essential for applications ranging from switching elements and drivers to transducers for chemical and biological sensing. Organic transistors have become well-established based on their distinct advantages, including ease of fabrication, synthetic freedom for chemical functionalization, and the ability to take on unique form factors. These devices, however, are largely viewed as belonging to the low-end of the performance spectrum. Here we present organic electrochemical transistors with a transconductance in the mS range, outperforming transistors from both traditional and emerging semiconductors. The transconductance of these devices remains fairly constant from DC up to a frequency of the order of 1 kHz, a value determined by the process of ion transport between the electrolyte and the channel. These devices, which continue to work even after being crumpled, are predicted to be highly relevant as transducers in biosensing applications

A physical interpretation of impedance at conducting polymer/electrolyte junctions

We monitor the process of dedoping in a planar junction between an electrolyte and a conducting polymer using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy performed during moving front measurements. The impedance spectra are consistent with an equivalent circuit of a time varying resistor in parallel with a capacitor. We show that the resistor corresponds to ion transport in the dedoped region of the film, and can be quantitatively described using ion density and drift mobility obtained from the moving front measurements. The capacitor, on the other hand, does not depend on time and is associated with charge separation at the moving front. This work offers a physical description of the impedance of conducting polymer/electrolyte interfaces based on materials parameters. © 2014 Author(s)

A simple model for ion injection and transport in conducting polymers

We present a simple analytical model that describes ion transport in a planar junction between an electrolyte and a conducting polymer film. When ions are injected in the film, holes recede, leading to partial dedoping of the film. This is modeled by two resistors in series, an ionic one for the dedoped part and an electronic one for the still-doped part. We show that analytical predictions can be made for the temporal evolution of the drift length of ions and the current, variables that could be assessed experimentally. A numerical model based on forward time iteration of drift/diffusion equations is used to validate these predictions. Using realistic materials parameters, we find that the analytical model can be used to obtain the ion drift mobility in the film, and as such, it might be useful towards the development of structure vs. ion transport properties relationships in this important class of electronic materials. © 2013 AIP Publishing LLC

Electrically controlled cellular migration on a periodically micropatterned PEDOT:PSS conducting polymer platform

© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. In the field of tissue engineering, the study of cellular adhesion and migration is of crucial interest. Conducting polymers such as poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) provide an outstanding interface with biology due to their soft nature, which is closer to the mechanical, chemical, and morphological properties of biological systems. In this work, periodically micropatterned PEDOT:PSS thin films are used as a platform to investigate cellular migration. Human cerebral microvascular endothelial cells (hCMEC) show alignment and linear motion along PEDOT:PSS microstripes of varying widths (10–30 μm). In addition, an electrochemical gradient is created on the PEDOT:PSS film along these microstripes to influence the cell behavior. hCMEC cells linearly change their velocities depending on the redox state of the conducting polymer film. This work demonstrates the potential of such conducting polymer platforms to combine, at the same time, several key physicochemical factors for controlling cellular migration. In the future, we envision that these conducting polymer platforms will deliver tools for tissue regeneration and lead to new opportunities in regenerative medicine. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 47029

High speed and high density organic electrochemical transistor arrays

A generic lithographic process is presented that allows the fabrication of high density organic electrochemical transistor arrays meant to interface with aqueous electrolytes. The channels of the transistors, which were 6 m long, were made of the conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with poly(styrene sulfonate) and were in direct contact with phosphate buffered saline. Source and drain electrodes and interconnects were insulated by parylene C, a biocompatible material. The transistors operated at low voltages and showed a response time of the order of 100 s. © 2011 American Institute of Physics

Direct measurement of ion mobility in a conducting polymer

Using planar junctions between the conducting polymer PEDOT:PSS and various electrolytes, it is possible to inject common ions and directly observe their transit through the film. The 1D geometry of the experiment allows a straightforward estimate of the ion drift mobilities. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

Engineering hydrophilic conducting composites with enhanced ion mobility

Ion mobility has a direct influence on the performance of conducting polymers in a number of applications as it dictates the operational speed of the devices. We report here the enhanced ion mobility of poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) after incorporation of gelatin. The gelatin-rich domains were seen to provide an ion pathway through the composites. © 2014 the Owner Societies

Highly conformable conducting polymer electrodes for in vivo recordings

A photolithographic process was used to integrate the conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) with parylene C, yielding highly conformable electrode arrays that were only four micrometers thick (shown here to conform to the midrib of a small leaf). The arrays were sufficiently self-supporting to allow in vivo evaluation in rats, yielding high-quality electrocorticography recordings. Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim