Ultra-soft coatings for interfaces with brain and other soft tissues

Abstract

A soft conductive composition can include: a crosslinked silicone composition; and single-walled or multi-walled carbon nanotubes in the silicone composition. A neural probe or other implant can include the soft conducive composition on a least a portion of the implant body. A method of making an implant can include: selecting PDMS precursors; cross-linking the PDMS precursor to obtain an elastic modulus of about 3-9 kPa or +/− 1%, 5%, 10%, 20%, or 50%; selecting the carbon nanotubes; introducing the carbon nanotubes into the crosslinked PDMS to form a soft conductive composite composition; and coating the soft conductive composite composition onto at least a portion of an implant. A method of measuring properties at a neural interface can include: providing a neural probe having a soft conductive composition; implanting the neural probe having the soft conductive composition at a neural interface; and measuring a property with the neural probe.

1 . A soft conductive composite composition comprising:
 a crosslinked silicone composition; and   carbon nanotubes in the silicone composition.