The molecular and electrophysiologic response to chronic intraneural silicone electrode implantation
Abstract
The objective of this proposal is to quantify changes in gene expression subsequent to implantation and long-term presence of silicone multielectrode recording arrays and to correlate those molecular events with electrophysiological performance and tissue reactivity. Tasking to achieve the goals of this STIR proposal will include use of whole-genome microarrays to measure local gene expression changes in response to silicone multi electrode arrays that will be chronically implanted in rat sciatic nerve. Newly developed electrodes will be utilized for this study to test their efficacy for future brain-machine interface studies. Simultaneously, bipolar EMG electrodes will be implanted in the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to asses neuromuscular input from the sciatic nerve. Implanted rodents will be allowed to recover for 14 days to permit healing and stabilization of the electrodes and pedestal before recording begins. Recording sessions will last approximately one hour and will be repeated weekly until we are no longer able to record single unit neural activity, or a 90 day survival timepoint is reached. For the gene array study, in addition to the 90 day electrode implant group, there will be an unimplanted group and a group which will have the electrode array implanted into the sciatic nerve, but then immediately withdrawn. The portion of sciatic nerve that was injured by inserting and withdrawing the silicon electrode array and the uninjured control will be harvested and immediately preserved for genome sequencing. Proposer plans to correlate molecular events with the electrophysiological performance of the chronically implanted electrode arrays and to determine histological changes that show evidence of tissue reactivity.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 12, 2017
- Source ID
- W911NF1610234
Entities
People
- Edward Keefer
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Office of the Secretary of Defense