Fabrication of titanium dioxide nanomaterial for implantable highly flexible composite bioelectrode for biosensing applications

Abstract

Implantable and stretchable electrodes have managed to progress the medical field from a medical diagnosis aspect to a patient treatment level. They offer the ability to detect biosignals and conduct electrical current to tissues that aid in muscle stimulation and axon regeneration. Current conventional electrodes are fabricated from stiff and very expensive, precious metals such as platinum. In this work, novel, low cost, and highly flexible electrode materials were fabricated based on titanium dioxide (TiO2) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) supported by a silicone polymer matrix. The electrode materials were characterized by their electrochemical, mechanical, and surface properties. The electrodes possessed high flexibility with Young's modulus of 235 kPa, revealing highly stretchable characteristics. The impedance at 1 kHz was around 114.6 k, and the charge capacity was 1.23 mC/cm2. The fabricated electrodes appeared to have a smooth surface, as seen in the scanning electron microscope micrographs, compared with electrodes in the literature. Long-time stability tests revealed an overall decrease in impedance and an increase in the charge capacity up to 475% of the initial value within three weeks.