Single-crystal cubic silicon carbide: an in vivo biocompatible semiconductor for brain machine interface devices

Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2011:2011:2957-60. doi: 10.1109/IEMBS.2011.6090582.

Abstract

Single crystal silicon carbide (SiC) is a wide band-gap semiconductor which has shown both bio- and hemo-compatibility [1-5]. Although single crystalline SiC has appealing bio-sensing potential, the material has not been extensively characterized. Cubic silicon carbide (3C-SiC) has superior in vitro biocompatibility compared to its hexagonal counterparts [3, 5]. Brain machine interface (BMI) systems using implantable neuronal prosthetics offer the possibility of bi-directional signaling, which allow sensory feedback and closed loop control. Existing implantable neural interfaces have limited long-term reliability, and 3C-SiC may be a material that may improve that reliability. In the present study, we investigated in vivo 3C-SiC biocompatibility in the CNS of C56BL/6 mice. 3C-SiC was compared against the known immunoreactive response of silicon (Si) at 5, 10, and 35 days. The material was examined to detect CD45, a protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) expressed by activated microglia and macrophages. The 3C-SiC surface revealed limited immunoresponse and significantly reduced microglia compared to Si substrate.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biocompatible Materials*
  • Carbon Compounds, Inorganic / chemistry*
  • Man-Machine Systems*
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Semiconductors*
  • Silicon Compounds / chemistry*

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Carbon Compounds, Inorganic
  • Silicon Compounds
  • silicon carbide