Biocompatibility evaluation of a thermoplastic rubber for wireless telemetric intracranial pressure sensor coating.

Yang, Jun; Charif, Andrea C; Puskas, Judit E; Phillips, Hannah; Shanahan, Kaitlyn J; Garsed, Jessica; Fleischman, Aaron; Goldman, Ken et al. · J Mech Behav Biomed Mater · 2015

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

This study investigated the biocompatibility of the experimental thermoplastic rubber Arbomatrix(™) that will be used as the protective coating on a novel intracranial pressure (ICP) sensor silicon chip. Arbomatrix(™) was benchmarked against biocompatible commercial silicone rubber shunt tubing in the brain via a rat model with 60-day implant duration. A bare silicon chip was also implanted. The results showed similar cellular distribution in the brain-implant boundary and surrounding tissues. Quantitative analysis of neuron and glia density did not show significant difference between implants. Through histological and immunohistochemical evaluation we conclude that Arbomatrix(™) is well tolerated by the brain. Due to its exceptional barrier properties Arbomatrix(™) has already been shown to be an excellent protective coating for new ICP monitoring chip.

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