Published August 21, 2020 | Version v1
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Laser writing of nitrogen-doped silicon carbide for biological modulation

Description

Conducting or semiconducting materials embedded in insulating polymeric substrates can be useful in biointerface applications; however, attainment of this composite configuration by direct chemical processes is challenging. Laser-assisted synthesis has evolved as a fast and inexpensive technique to prepare various materials, but its utility in the construction of biophysical tools or biomedical devices is less explored. Here, we use laser writing to convert portions of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) into nitrogen-doped cubic silicon carbide (3C-SiC). The dense 3C-SiC surface layer is connected to the PDMS matrix via a spongy graphite layer, facilitating electrochemical and photoelectrochemical activity. We demonstrate the fabrication of arbitrary two-dimensional (2D) SiC-based patterns in PDMS and freestanding 3D constructs. To establish the functionality of the laser-produced composite, we apply it as flexible electrodes for pacing isolated hearts and as photoelectrodes for local peroxide delivery to smooth muscle sheets.

Data availability

All data needed to evaluate the conclusions in the paper are present in the paper and/or the Supplementary Materials. Additional data related to this paper can be requested from the authors.

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Additional details

Identifiers

DOI
10.1126/sciadv.aaz2743
Other
oai:uchicago.tind.io:10972

Funding

National Science Foundation
DMR-1420709
Office of Naval Research
N000141612530
Office of Naval Research
N000141612958
National Institutes of Health
NS101488
Air Force Office of Scientific Research
FA9550-18-1-0503
Army Research Office
W911NF-18-1-0042

UChicago Information

Division(s)
Biological Sciences Division, Physical Sciences Division, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering
Department(s)
Chemistry, Physics
Center(s) or Institute(s)
Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, James Franck Institute