Neural Regeneration Research | 2021
Implanted devices: the importance of both electrochemical performance and biological acceptance
Abstract
COMMENTS TO AUTHORS This paper makes an argument for the importance of assessing bioreactivity of implanted electrodes in addition to more common electrochemical testing. It also encourages the use of chronic in vivo studies in addition to benchtop and acute experiments. Electrode coatings are increasingly being used to improve the charge injection limits of implanted neural stimulation electrodes, however chronic in vivo studies assessing the coating bioreactivity are still not commonly done. As the authors state, these studies are crucial to understanding long-term electrode safety and effectiveness for clinical applications. Although the goal of this paper is important, timely, and well taken, the current form does not expand significantly upon existing reviews of electrochemical testing and tissue reactivity. This paper would be improved by providing additional explanation of what data can be obtained exclusively from chronic in vivo studies and improving the arguments for why this data is necessary in addition to the normally performed benchtop testing.