Developing stretchable and conformal neural interfaces for investigating the enteric nervous system

The enteric nervous system is a network of neurons that reside in the gastrointestinal tract. Functionally, it not only regulates gastrointestinal function, but also communicates with our brain - affecting mood, satiety, and is increasingly associated with neurological disorders. It is also fundamentally interesting, as it is the only other autonomous neuronal network in the body outside of the brain and spinal cord. Despite its importance, our understanding of this system has been hindered as we currently cannot record the neural activity of the enteric nervous system without disrupting its function. This is because the gut is mechanically dynamic – it constantly deforms, stretches, and compresses. As a result, the current gold standard is to dissect the gut into a two-dimensional flat sheet and mechanically fix it to make it compatible with existing electrode or calcium imaging methods. 
I propose to develop a tissue-like electrode array that can stretch and adhere to the gut, enabling single neuron recordings without impairing motility. My key hypothesis is that because neurons in the colon lie within 30 μm of the gut surface, a conformally adhered electrode array can record their extracellular action potentials. However, as no existing materials are both soft enough while maintaining water impermeability to preserve signal integrity, I will begin with the molecular design and synthesis of fluorinated bottlebrush polymers and fabricate it into an electrode array using semiconductor techniques. I will use this electrode array to investigate the neural network dynamics of the enteric reflex circuit. In summary, this project will lay the foundation for investigating enteric neuron activity in its natural environment, with the long-term goal of advancing our understanding of the structure-function relationship of the gastrointestinal tract.