# RR&D Research Career Scientist Award Application

> **NIH VA IK6** · LOUIS STOKES CLEVELAND VA MEDICAL CENTER · 2020 · —

## Abstract

Overall goals: My laboratory is dedicated to understanding and mitigating the neuroinflammatory response to
implanted devices within the central nervous system. Such devices range from ventricular shunts to various
types of stimulating and recording electrodes. Neural devices range in material type, size, architecture, function,
and placement. Regardless of any of these variables, the neuroinflammatory response to the implant plays a
significant role on the integrity of the healthy tissue and the longevity of device performance. A progressive
decline in recordings quality after implantation has been known for over 40 years. Unfortunately, recording
instability is still a commonly documented problem. A major portion of my work has focused on studying various
aspects of intracortical microelectrode performance, and pursuing both materials-based and therapeutic-based
methods to mitigate the inflammatory-mediated intracortical microelectrode failure mechanisms. Areas include:
1) Role of tissue/device mechanical mismatch on microelectrode failure. I have developed biologically-
inspired, mechanically-dynamic intracortical microelectrodes based on their polymer nanocomposite material.
Enabled by the novel material system, I am able to independently examine and manipulate device modulus,
geometry, and drug-eluting capabilities. Over the past ten years, my team has successfully demonstrated that
mechanically-dynamic polymer-based intracortical microelectrodes are stiff enough to be inserted into the brain,
become compliant to reduce micro-motion and inhibit late-stage neuroinflammatory responses, and can be
fabricated into functional intracortical microelectrodes capable of recording from neural structures in live animals.
We have also recently demonstrated that mechanically-dynamic polymer-based intracortical microelectrodes
can be utilized to deliver anti-inflammatory therapeutics to further mitigate implant-associated inflammation. As
part of our ongoing Department of Defense CDMRP award, we are collaboratively working to characterize the
relationship between microelectrode-induced tissue strain and recording performance.
2) Role of oxidative stress on microelectrode failure. Oxidative pathways have been implicated in both
neurodegeneration and corrosive damage to both the metallic and insulating materials of current intracortical
microelectrode technologies. Thus, approaches to mitigate or attenuate the deleterious effects of oxidative
inflammatory products are of significant importance. We have demonstrated that several antioxidants can be
delivered systemically or locally to temporally mitigate neuronal damage and loss, and that bioactive coatings
with mimetic anti-oxidative enzymes can prolong neuroprotection. Further, unpublished results have also
established a correlation between osmotically delivered antioxidant therapy within the brain and improved
intracortical microelectrode recording performance. Over the next four years, my new VA Merit Re...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9838097
- **Project number:** 5IK6RX003077-02
- **Recipient organization:** LOUIS STOKES CLEVELAND VA MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Jeffrey R Capadona
- **Activity code:** IK6 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-01-01 → 2023-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9838097

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9838097, RR&D Research Career Scientist Award Application (5IK6RX003077-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9838097. Licensed CC0.

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