BIOMATERIALS FOR THE MICROELECTRODE-NEURAL INTERFACE
Release Date: December 1, 1999
NOTICE: NS-00-003
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION: NIH-NINDS-RFI-00-03
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), is
seeking to identify sources that are interested and have the potential
capability to study biomaterials for the CNS with a long-term goal of
rationally designing microelectrode surfaces to promote integration of
microelectrodes within the CNS. The information requested below will
aid in planning and developing a possible solicitation for this
potential initiative. It is our opinion that the most suitable target
audience to respond to this inquiry would be organizations engaged in
or familiar with similar research.
Background
Biomaterials that are implanted into the central nervous system, such
as the microscopic electrode shafts of neural prostheses, should
interact with neural and other tissues on a cellular and molecular
level. Two differences between the implant and the neural tissue that
hinder this interaction are differences in stiffness and differences in
surface chemistry. For example, silicon microelectrodes have an
elastic modulus of around 100 gigaPascals whereas the stiffness of
neural tissue is on the order of 0.1 megapascals. This million fold
difference in stiffness results in significant differential movement in
response to external stress. The imbalance probably causes greater
problems in large brained animals where stress loads are larger and may
account for the greater difficulty that has been encountered in chronic
recording from larger brained animals.
An implanted surface must not move with respect to the neural tissue it
is making connections with. In addition, the surface of an implant
must be recognized biochemically by the neural tissue as a surface that
is appropriate for contact. This interaction between implanted
microelectrode and neural tissue must be understood and controlled.
Controlling the interaction requires an understanding of how cells,
including neurons and glia, and extracellular matrix respond to the
surface chemistry of the implant and knowledge about leachable
substances of implanted biomaterials. Microelectrodes offer the
possibility of controlled stimulation of smaller volumes of neural
tissue on the order of one thousand to one hundred thousand times
smaller than those used today provided that the surface interaction
between the microelectrode and the neural tissue is controlled.
This Request for Information (RFI) is for information and planning
purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an
obligation on the part of the Government. The Government does not
intend to award a contract on the basis of responses nor otherwise pay
for the preparation of any information submitted or the Government’s
use of such information. Acknowledgement of receipt of responses will
not be made, nor will respondents be notified of the Government’s
evaluation of the information received. However, should such a
requirement materialize, no basis for claims against the Government
shall arise as a result of a response to this request for information
or the Government’s use of such information as either part of our
evaluation process or in developing specifications for any subsequent
requirement. Responses will be held in a confidential manner. Any
proprietary information should be so marked.
All respondents are asked to indicate the type and size of your
business organization, e.g., Large Business, Small Business, Small
Disadvantaged Business, Women-Owned Business, 8 (a), Historically Black
College or University/Minority Institution (HBCU/MI), educational
institution, profit/non-profit hospital, or other nonprofit
organization.
Responses should be identified with NIH-NINDS-RFI-00-03, and are due by
December 13, 1999. Please submit three copies of your response to the
attention of: Desiree Y. Wheeler, Contract Specialist, Contracts
Management Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and
Stroke, NIH, 6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 3287, MSC 9531, Bethesda,
Maryland 20892-9531. Facsimile responses will also be accepted. E-
mail responses, sent to dw76q@nih.gov, will also be accepted.
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