A chronic photocapacitor implant for noninvasive neurostimulation with deep red light

Implantable clinical neuroelectronic devices are limited by a lack of reliable, safe, and minimally invasive methods to wirelessly modulate neural tissue. Here, we address this challenge by using organic electrolytic photocapacitors (OEPCs) to perform chronic peripheral nerve stimulation via transduction of tissue-penetrating deep-red light into electrical signals. The operating principle of the OEPC relies on efficient charge generation by nanoscale organic semiconductors comprising nontoxic commercial pigments. OEPCs integrated on an ultrathin cuff are implanted, and light impulses at wavelengths in the tissue transparency window are used to stimulate from outside of the body. Typical stimulation parameters involve irradiation with pulses of 50-1000 s length (638 or 660 nm), capable of actuating the implant about 10 mm below the skin. We detail how to benchmark performance parameters of OEPCs first ex vivo, and in vivo using a rat sciatic nerve. Incorporation of a microfabricated zip-tie mechanism enabled stable, long-term nerve implantation of OEPC devices in rats, with sustained ability to non-invasively mediate neurostimulation over 100 days. OEPC devices introduce a high performance, ultralow volume (0.1 mm3), biocompatible approach to wireless neuromodulation, with potential applicability to an array of clinical bioelectronics.