In vitro compatibility testing of thiol‐ene/acrylate‐based shape memory polymers for use in implantable neural interfaces

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) based on thiol‐ene/acrylate formulations are an emerging class of materials with potential applications as structural and/or dielectric coatings for implantable neural interfaces. Here, we report in vitro compatibility studies of three novel thiol‐ene/acrylate‐based SMP formulations. In vivo cytotoxicity assays were carried out in accordance with International Organization for Standards (ISO) protocol 10993‐5, using NCTC clone 929 fibroblasts as well as embryonic cortical cultures. All three SMP formulations passed standardized cytotoxicity assays (>70% normalized cell viability) using both cell types. Functional neurotoxicity assays were carried out using primary cortical networks cultured on substrate‐integrated microelectrode arrays (MEAs). We observed significant reduction in cortical network activity in the case of positive control material, but no significant alterations in activity following incubation with SMP material extracts, indicating functional cytocompatibility. Finally, we assessed cell reactivity at the tissue‐material interface by performing an in vitro glial scarring assay. Through immunostaining, we observed similar astrocyte‐associated (GFAP) mean intensity ratios near nonsoftening SMP‐coated and uncoated stainless steel microwires (1.10 ± 0.06 vs. 1.19 ± 0.10), suggesting similar glial cell reactivity. However, we observed decreased mean intensity ratios in the presence of fully softening SMP‐coated microwires (1.02 ± 0.04) suggesting reduced glial cell reactivity. Overall, these results indicate that the thiol‐ene/acrylate SMP formulations presented here are neither cytotoxic nor neurotoxic, and suggest that fully softening SMP may reduce foreign body response in terms of glial cell reactivity. These findings support further consideration of this class of materials as backbone or insulating materials for implantable neural stimulating/recording devices. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 2891–2898, 2018.