Functional neurological restoration of amputated peripheral nerve using biohybrid regenerative bioelectronics.

Amy E Rochford, Alejandro Carnicer-Lombarte, Malak Kawan, Amy Jin, Sam Hilton, Vincenzo F Curto, Alexandra L Rutz, Thomas Moreau, Mark R N Kotter, George G Malliaras, Damiano G Barone

OAI: oai:www.repository.cam.ac.uk:1810/348786 • DOI: 10.17863/CAM.96212

The development of neural interfaces with superior biocompatibility and improved tissue integration is vital for treating and restoring neurological functions in the nervous system. A critical factor is to increase the resolution for mapping neuronal inputs onto implants. For this purpose, we have developed a new category of neural interface comprising induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived myocytes as biological targets for peripheral nerve inputs that are grafted onto a flexible electrode arrays. We show long-term survival and functional integration of a biohybrid device carrying human iPSC-derived cells with the forearm nerve bundle of freely moving rats, following 4 weeks of implantation. By improving the tissue-electronics interface with an intermediate cell layer, we have demonstrated enhanced resolution and electrical recording in vivo as a first step toward restorative therapies using regenerative bioelectronics.

Neurons Peripheral Nerves Animals Humans Rats Electrodes Nerve Regeneration