INS8-1282
Immune-compatible Polypyrrole-based Implantable Bioelectrodes via Topographical and Antioxidant Engineering for Modulated Tissue Responses
Topic
S8. Frontiers of Functional Polymers in Biology and Medicine
When and Where
Oct 1, 2026
10:45 - 11:00
Room 108
Session Chairs
Jieung BAEK
Yoonho HWANG
Presenter(s)
Jae Young Lee (Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
Implantable bioelectrodes are essential for recording and stimulating electrical signals, but their long-term performance is often compromised by foreign body reactions, oxidative stress, and macrophage-driven inflammation, leading to scar encapsulation and high interfacial resistance. To address this, we developed polypyrrole (PPy)-based bioelectrodes designed to promote an anti-inflammatory macrophage phenotype. First, optimizing surface roughness and immobilizing interleukin-4 (IL-4) significantly reduced macrophage recruitment and induced anti-inflammatory polarization. Additionally, doping PPy with hemin-conjugated heparin (HepH) introduced robust, catalase-mimicking reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging activity. This efficiently reduced intracellular ROS and further supported anti-inflammatory polarization. In vivo subcutaneous studies demonstrated that these topographical and antioxidant modifications successfully mitigated collagenous scar formation. Consequently, the immune-compatible bioelectrodes enabled reliable, real-time electrocardiogram (ECG) recording for up to 20 days without significant sensitivity loss. These effective surface modification strategies offer a promising platform for advanced electronic medical devices requiring long-term stability and high sensitivity.
