# Optimization and Delivery of Bioactive Coating for High Yield and Stable Neural Recording

> **NIH NIH U01** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2022 · $588,210

## Abstract

Project Summary
The ability to monitor activity of ensembles of neurons at single-cell resolution, chronically, over long time
periods is greatly desired by neuroscientists. A variety of multi-electrode arrays (MEAs) have been developed
for in vivo studies. These arrays are capable of revealing the activity of neuronal ensembles. Unfortunately,
none of the devices on the market is fully capable of obtaining recordings that are simultaneously high-yield
and high-quality, as well as stable and useful over months to years. This well-known challenge has greatly
limited our ability to track the activity of populations of single neurons over a sufficient period of time to fully
investigate circuit change during learning and memory, development and aging, or disease progression and
wound healing. Additionally, the clinical use of brain machine interface (BMI), which utilize recorded neural
activities to decode movement intent for controlling machine, has been hindered by the unstable and unreliable
recording.
We have developed a biomimetic coating composed of a brain-derived L1-cell adhesion molecule that mitigate
the inflammatory host tissue reaction. In rodents, L1 coated NeuroNexas probes maintained high quality neural
recording over the period of 16 weeks with significant higher single unit yield and signal to noise ratio than the
uncoated control probes. Meanwhile, recordings in non-human primates (NHPs) with L1-coated Blackrock
MEAs also demonstrated high quality performance in single unit yield and signal amplitude for at least 6
months. MEA manufacturers and users expressed strong interest in utilizing this technology. However, the
coating made of biological protein is fragile and may lose bioactivity during the harsh environment of shipping,
storage and sterilization. In order to make the L1 coating a technology that can be widely adopted by the
neuroscience community, we propose to optimize the coating stability and develop practical protocols for
coating preservation, storage, packaging, delivery and sterilization. The bioactivity of the coating prepared with
different protocols will first be tested with cell cultures. Promising procedures will then be tested with
implantation and recording in rodents at the University of Pittsburgh. Once optimum coating and procedures
are determined, coated arrays will be delivered to users to evaluate the coating performance. Dr. Buzsaki
(NYU) will test the L1 coated NeuroNexas arrays in freely moving rats. Dr. Schwartz (U. Pitt) and Dr. Chestek
(U. Michigan) will test the L1 coated Blackrock arrays in NHPs for BMI studies. Users will work closely with us
to define specific performance criteria in their recording applications, compare performance of coated and
uncoated arrays, and provide user input for us to improve the packaging and delivery. Throughout the project,
representatives from two MEA manufacturers, Blackrock Microsystems and NeuroNexus Technology, will
serve as consultants to ensure compatibili...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10470899
- **Project number:** 5U01NS113279-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** XINYAN Tracy CUI
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $588,210
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-30 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10470899

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10470899, Optimization and Delivery of Bioactive Coating for High Yield and Stable Neural Recording (5U01NS113279-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10470899. Licensed CC0.

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