Electrodeposited iridium oxide (K1.7IrO0.8 (OH)2.2 × 1.8 H2O; also called IrO
x
) is among the best
substrates for neural growth,
decreasing impedance and stimulating cell growth, when used as a connected
electrode. Without direct contact, it has been proven to stimulate
neurons through a bipolar mechanism related to the conducting character
of the material in the presence of remote electric fields. The remote
wireless electrostimulation that arises from it is of large significance
in clinical applications. Ionic intercalation simultaneous with iridium
oxidation state changes at the induced IrO
x
cathode and the formation of a redox and ionic gradient at the IrO
x
substrate is envisaged as the most probable
explanation for the observed effects on neural cell growth. This work
shows the iridium state gradient using X-ray absorption spectroscopy
(XAS) with significant electrochemical features and relaxation times
that allow for a persistent effect in the material even after the
electric field creating the induced dipole is switched off. It also
shows correlated intercalated sodium gradients observed by semiquantitative
energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis data. The bipolar effect is
proven and yields new evidence for the behavior of other biocompatible
neural growth substrates.
Bipolar electrochemistry allows to develop processes in a wireless manner, with reactions occurring at the induced anodes and cathodes of an immersed conducting material in the electrolyte. As a result,...
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