On the use of Parylene C polymer as substrate for peripheral nerve electrodes

Sci Rep. 2018 Apr 13;8(1):5965. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-24502-z.

Abstract

Parylene C is a highly flexible polymer used in several biomedical implants. Since previous studies have reported valuable biocompatible and manufacturing characteristics for brain and intraneural implants, we tested its suitability as a substrate for peripheral nerve electrodes. We evaluated 1-year-aged in vitro samples, where no chemical differences were observed and only a slight deviation on Young's modulus was found. The foreign body reaction (FBR) to longitudinal Parylene C devices implanted in the rat sciatic nerve for 8 months was characterized. After 2 weeks, a capsule was formed around the device, which continued increasing up to 16 and 32 weeks. Histological analyses revealed two cell types implicated in the FBR: macrophages, in contact with the device, and fibroblasts, localized in the outermost zone after 8 weeks. Molecular analysis of implanted nerves comparing Parylene C and polyimide devices revealed a peak of inflammatory cytokines after 1 day of implant, returning to low levels thereafter. Only an increase of CCL2 and CCL3 was found at chronic time-points for both materials. Although no molecular differences in the FBR to both polymers were found, the thick tissue capsule formed around Parylene C puts some concern on its use as a scaffold for intraneural electrodes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biocompatible Materials / administration & dosage*
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Elastic Modulus / drug effects
  • Electrodes, Implanted
  • Female
  • Foreign-Body Reaction / drug therapy
  • Foreign-Body Reaction / metabolism
  • Inflammation / drug therapy
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Microelectrodes
  • Peripheral Nerves / drug effects*
  • Peripheral Nerves / metabolism
  • Polymers / administration & dosage*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Sciatic Nerve / drug effects
  • Sciatic Nerve / metabolism
  • Xylenes / administration & dosage*

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Cytokines
  • Polymers
  • Xylenes
  • parylene