Quantitative control of neuron adhesion at a neural interface using a conducting polymer composite with low electrical impedance

Tailoring cell response on an electrode surface is essential in the application of neural interfaces. In this paper, a method of controlling neuron adhesion on the surface of an electrode was demonstrated using a conducting polymer composite as an electrode coating. The electrodeposited coating was functionalized further with biomolecules-of-interest (BOI), with their surface concentration controlled via repetition of carbodiimide chemistry. The result was an electrode surface that promoted localized adhesion of primary neurons, the density of which could be controlled quantitatively via changes in the number of layers of BOI added. Important to neural interfaces, it was found that additional layers of BOI caused an insignificant increase in the electrical impedance, especially when compared to the large drop in impedance upon coating of the electrode with the conducting polymer composite.