Bingchen Wu

Microscale electrode arrays (MEA) have emerged as basic neuroscience research tool and effective therapeutic devices due to their capability of recording action potentials from population of individual neurons or modulating neural activity via electrical stimulation Although the applications of implantable electrode arrays in both clinical and research settings continue to expand rapidly, these devices face the general issue of signal quality degradation while the underlying mechanism remain unclear. The longevity of MEAs are crucial for applications in clinical settings and basic neuroscience research. Maintaining a healthy electrode-tissue interface has been particular challenging due to the subtle and complex tissue responses. Integration of implantable neural electrodes within neural tissue is a crucial factor affecting MEA performance. MEA also provides the opportunities for developing multifunctional platforms. My research focus on developing novel polymer materials coating camouflage the MEAs to maintain a healthy electrode-tissue interface. And coatings that enable post-functionalization capability of the MEA for incorporation of biosensors for biomolecules, such as dopamine, cocaine, to build an integrated platform.

Current main projects I’m working on are (1).In vivo dopamine sensor for tonic and phasic dopamine detection, (2). Stable chronic in vivo aptamer based cocaine sensor development, (3). Conducting polymers derivatives. (4). Microfabrication.

Publication:

• Facile Synthesis of a 3, 4-Ethylene-Dioxythiophene (EDOT) Derivative for Ease of Bio-functionalization of the Conducting Polymer PEDOT. B Wu, B Cao, IM Taylor, K Woeppel, XT Cui. Frontiers in Chemistry 7, 178
• Melatonin improves quality and longevity of chronic neural recording. A Golabchi, B Wu, X Li, DL Carlisle, TDY Kozai, RM Friedlander, XT Cui. Biomaterials 180, 225-239