Electroporation and Electrostimulation of Blind Retina Using Micro-electrode Arrays

摘要

Electrostimulation of neurons is extensively used in different neuroprosthetic applications. In certain neuropros-thetic applications constant voltage pulses with stimulus amplitudes exceeding 1-2 Volts are used. Here we investigate which stimulus parameters of monophasic or biphasic constant-voltage pulses lead to cell electroporation in blind retinas. Towards this aim we interfaced ex vivo adult blind mouse retina to an electrode array comprising micron-sized iridium oxide electrodes. Our experiments demonstrate cell electroporation in retinal tissue in close vicinity (30um) to the stimulation electrodes for monophasic voltage pulses of either polarity as low as 1.6 Volts and stimulus durations as short as 1 millisecond. These results will guide safe neuroprosthetic stimulation of blind retina.