2D Optimized Electrodes for Highly Sensitive and Biocompatible Neural Recording

Abstract

Neural electrodes are the core components of neural interfaces, which are widely used in the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders by accurately detecting and regulating the bioelectric activity. However, traditional electrodes face challenges such as low acquisition sensitivity and poor biocompatibility due to limited charge injection capability and mechanical mismatch at the tissue–electrode interface. Herein, we developed two-dimensional (2D) quantum material-modified electrodes based on WSe2 and WS2 quantum dots (QDs) that achieved improvements in both signal recording quality and biocompatibility. Due to the significantly increased effective reaction surface area and faster electronic transfer, the impedance and CSCc of 2D optimized electrodes have improved by 2.4-fold and 4.0-fold, respectively, which resulted in enhanced in vivo detection sensitivity over the entire frequency range. The 2D optimized electrode exhibits excellent mechanical and long-term stability, with a maximum CSCc of over 88.6%, ensuring the long-term stability of electrode structure and performance. Excellent antioxidant and CAT-like activity of 2D optimized electrodes reduce glial scar and neuronal death and improve the biocompatibility of the neural interface. The current work has laid the foundation for the application of materials such as TMDs and MXenes in neural electrodes, holding great promise for advancements in neuroscience research and medical applications.