A Bio-Inspired Artificial Nerve Simulator for Ex Vivo Validation of Implantable Neural Interfaces Equipped with Plug Electrodes.
| Title: | A Bio-Inspired Artificial Nerve Simulator for Ex Vivo Validation of Implantable Neural Interfaces Equipped with Plug Electrodes. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Teleanu DM; University of Medicine and Pharmacy 'Carol Davila', 050474 Bucharest, Romania.; Ionescu ON; IMT Bucharest, 077190 Bucharest, Romania.; Petroleum and Gas University from Ploiesti, 100680 Ploiesti, Romania.; Moldovan CA; IMT Bucharest, 077190 Bucharest, Romania.; Ion M; IMT Bucharest, 077190 Bucharest, Romania.; Tulbure A; Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Universitatea '1 Decembrie 1918', 510009 Alba Iulia, Romania.; Franti E; IMT Bucharest, 077190 Bucharest, Romania.; Dragomir DC; IMT Bucharest, 077190 Bucharest, Romania.; Dinulescu S; IMT Bucharest, 077190 Bucharest, Romania.; Boga BM; University of Medicine and Pharmacy 'Carol Davila', 050474 Bucharest, Romania.; Oproiu AM; University of Medicine and Pharmacy 'Carol Davila', 050474 Bucharest, Romania.; Diana-Larisa A; Preclinical Testing Unit, The Technological Research and Development Center, Cantacuzino National Military-Medical Institute for Research and Development, 050096 Bucharest, Romania.; Mariana V; Experimental Medicine and Translational Research Platform, The Technological Research and Development Center, Cantacuzino National Military-Medical Institute for Research and Development, 050096 Bucharest, Romania.; Cristin C; Experimental Medicine and Translational Research Platform, The Technological Research and Development Center, Cantacuzino National Military-Medical Institute for Research and Development, 050096 Bucharest, Romania.; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 011464 Bucharest, Romania.; Mihailescu C; IMT Bucharest, 077190 Bucharest, Romania.; Savin M; IMT Bucharest, 077190 Bucharest, Romania.; Ionescu G; Petroleum and Gas University from Ploiesti, 100680 Ploiesti, Romania.; Dascalu M; National University of Science and Technology Politehnica, 061085 Bucharest, Romania.; Pogarasteanu ME; University of Medicine and Pharmacy 'Carol Davila', 050474 Bucharest, Romania.; Moga M; University of Medicine and Pharmacy 'Carol Davila', 050474 Bucharest, Romania.; Suchea MP; IMT Bucharest, 077190 Bucharest, Romania.; Center of Materials Technology and Photonics, School of Engineering, and Centre for Research and Innovation (PEK), Hellenic Mediterranean University (HMU), 71410 Heraklion, Greece. |
| Source: | Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland) [Bioengineering (Basel)] 2025 Dec 16; Vol. 12 (12). Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Dec 16. |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: MDPI AG Country of Publication: Switzerland NLM ID: 101676056 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Print ISSN: 2306-5354 (Print) Linking ISSN: 23065354 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Bioengineering (Basel) Subsets: PubMed not MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: Basel, Switzerland : MDPI AG, [2014]- |
| Abstract: | The development of implantable neural interfaces is essential for enabling bidirectional communication between the nervous system and prosthetic devices, yet their evaluation still relies primarily on in vivo models which are costly, variable, and ethically constrained. Here, we report a bio-inspired artificial nerve simulator engineered as a reproducible ex vivo platform for pre-implantation testing of plug-type electrodes. The simulator is fabricated from a conductive hydrogel composite based on reduced graphene oxide (rGO), polyaniline (PANI), agarose, sucrose, and sodium chloride, with embedded conductive channels that replicate the fascicular organization and conductivity of peripheral nerves. The resulting construct exhibits impedance values of ~2.4-2.9 kΩ between electrode needles at 1 kHz, closely matching in vivo measurements (~2 kΩ) obtained in Sus scrofa domesticus nerve tissue. Its structural and electrical fidelity enables systematic evaluation of electrode-nerve contact properties, signal transmission, and insertion behavior under controlled conditions, while reducing reliance on animal experiments. This bio-inspired simulator offers a scalable and physiologically relevant testbed that bridges materials engineering and translational neuroprosthetics, accelerating the development of next-generation implantable neural interfaces. |
| References: | Mater Today Bio. 2025 Jul 14;34:102092. (PMID: 40727303); APL Bioeng. 2019 Sep 17;3(3):036107. (PMID: 31893255); Adv Sci (Weinh). 2022 Apr;9(12):e2103875. (PMID: 35182046); Ultrasound Med Biol. 2023 Jan;49(1):18-30. (PMID: 36210247); Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2020 Sep 25;8:582646. (PMID: 33102465); Adv Sci (Weinh). 2023 Jul;10(20):e2207536. (PMID: 37119478); Biosensors (Basel). 2024 Jan 09;14(1):. (PMID: 38248408); Micromachines (Basel). 2023 Mar 23;14(4):. (PMID: 37420942); Bioengineering (Basel). 2022 Jul 15;9(7):. (PMID: 35877370); J Biomed Opt. 2021 Nov;27(7):. (PMID: 34796707); Gels. 2024 Jan 27;10(2):. (PMID: 38391432); Nat Mater. 2024 Jul;23(7):969-976. (PMID: 38671159); Adv Healthc Mater. 2019 Dec;8(23):e1901215. (PMID: 31701673); Mater Today Bio. 2020 Jan 30;6:100043. (PMID: 32190832); ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2023 Dec 27;15(51):59224-59235. (PMID: 38091494); J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2020 Mar 10;17(1):43. (PMID: 32151268); Biomater Adv. 2023 Nov;154:213653. (PMID: 37862812); Biomaterials. 2004 Mar-Apr;25(7-8):1269-78. (PMID: 14643601); J Neural Eng. 2021 May 25;18(4):. (PMID: 33957608); Sci Rep. 2017 Aug 1;7(1):7034. (PMID: 28765573); IEEE Trans Biomed Circuits Syst. 2023 Dec;17(6):1237-1256. (PMID: 37956015); J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2007;60(12):1302-8. (PMID: 18005921); Adv Mater. 2024 May;36(19):e2312735. (PMID: 38290128); Nat Commun. 2020 Jan 14;11(1):268. (PMID: 31937777); Mater Today Bio. 2025 Nov 10;35:102538. (PMID: 41322153) |
| Grant Information: | 101112347 European Union and UEFISCDI |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: bio-inspired artificial nerve simulator; ex vivo test platform; neural interface |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20251230 Date Completed: 20251230 Latest Revision: 20260102 |
| Update Code: | 20260130 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC12729592 |
| DOI: | 10.3390/bioengineering12121366 |
| PMID: | 41463664 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
Journal Article