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Design and Testing of a Bending-Resistant Transparent Nanocoating for Optoacoustic Cochlear Implants |
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| Authors: | Alessandra Griffo Yingying Liu Riitta Mahlberg Dr Hanna-L Alakomi Dr Leena-S Johansson Dr Roberto Milani |
| Institution: | 1. VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd., P.O. Box 1000, FI-02044VTT Espoo, Finland
Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076Aalto Espoo, Finland;2. VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd., P.O. Box 1000, FI-02044VTT Espoo, Finland;3. Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076Aalto Espoo, Finland |
| Abstract: | A nanosized coating was designed to reduce fouling on the surface of a new type of cochlear implant relying on optoacoustic stimulation. This kind of device imposes novel design principles for antifouling coatings, such as optical transparency and resistance to significant constant bending. To reach this goal we deposited on poly(dimethylsiloxane) a PEO-based layer with negligible thickness compared to the curvature radius of the cochlea. Its antifouling performance was monitored upon storage by quartz crystal microbalance, and its resistance upon bending was tested by fluorescence microscopy under geometrical constraints similar to those of implantation. The coating displayed excellent antifouling features and good stability, and proved suitable for further testing in real-environment conditions. |
| Keywords: | antifouling coatings implantable devices interfaces silanes surface chemistry thin films |