On the longevity and inherent hermeticity of silicon-ICs: evaluation of bare-die and PDMS-coated ICs after accelerated aging and implantation studies

Nanbakhsh Kambiz; Shah Idil Ahmad; Lamont Callum; Dücső Csaba; Akgun Ömer Can; Horváth Domonkos; Tóth Kinga; Meszéna Domokos; Ulbert István; Mazza Federico; Constandinou Timothy G.; Serdijn Wouter; Vanhoestenberghe Anne; Donaldson Nick; Giagka Vasiliki: On the longevity and inherent hermeticity of silicon-ICs: evaluation of bare-die and PDMS-coated ICs after accelerated aging and implantation studies.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 16 (1). ISSN 2041-1723 (2025)

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Folyóiratcikk

Szerző azonosítók:

Név	ORCID	MTMT szerző azonosító
Nanbakhsh Kambiz
Shah Idil Ahmad	0000-0001-7686-3505
Lamont Callum
Dücső Csaba	0000-0002-3003-9569
Akgun Ömer Can
Horváth Domonkos	0000-0001-7310-2890	10018157
Tóth Kinga	0000-0002-8751-8499	192
Meszéna Domokos	0000-0003-4042-2542	10047398
Ulbert István	0000-0001-9941-9159	10001193
Mazza Federico	0000-0002-2173-552X
Constandinou Timothy G.	0000-0001-9778-1162
Serdijn Wouter
Vanhoestenberghe Anne
Donaldson Nick	0000-0001-8420-2512
Giagka Vasiliki	0000-0002-0822-2121

Absztrakt (kivonat):

Silicon integrated circuits (ICs) are central to the next-generation miniature active neural implants, whether packaged in soft polymers for flexible bioelectronics or implanted as bare die for neural probes. These emerging applications bring the IC closer to the corrosive body environment, raising reliability concerns, particularly for chronic use. Here, we evaluate the inherent hermeticity of bare die ICs, and examine the potential of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), a moisture-permeable elastomer, as a standalone encapsulation material. For this aim, the electrical and material performance of ICs sourced from two foundries was evaluated through one-year accelerated in vitro and in vivo studies. ICs featured custom-designed test structures and were partially PDMS coated, creating two regions on each chip, uncoated “bare die” and “PDMS-coated”. During the accelerated in vitro study, ICs were electrically biased and periodically monitored. Results revealed stable electrical performance, indicating the unaffected operation of ICs even when directly exposed to physiological fluids. Despite this, material analysis revealed IC degradation in the bare regions. PDMS-coated regions, however, revealed limited degradation, making PDMS a suitable IC encapsulant for years-long implantation. Based on the new insights, guidelines are proposed that may enhance the longevity of implantable ICs, broadening their applications in the biomedical field.

Folyóirat/kiadvány címe:

NATURE COMMUNICATIONS

Évszám:

2025

Kötet:

Szám:

ISSN:

2041-1723

Intézmény:

Pázmány Péter Katolikus Egyetem

Kar:

Információs Technológiai és Bionikai Kar (2013.07.-)