Neural Device Regrows Surrounding Skull After Brain Implantation

Placing electronic implants on the brain typically requires removing a portion of the skull, creating challenges for long-term access and safe closure. Current methods often involve temporarily replacing the skull or securing metal plates, which can lead to complications such as skin erosion and additional surgeries. These limitations restrict the durable implantation of larger monitoring or stimulation devices used for neurological conditions. Researchers have now demonstrated a technique that allows the skull to regrow naturally over an implanted neural device, offering a safer pathway for sustained brain access.

A research team at Dartmouth Engineering (Hanover, NH, USA) combined thin-film neural recording arrays with bone-regenerating cryogel scaffolds to create an integrated system that supports both electronic function and tissue healing. The scaffold is made from a degradable chitosan- and gelatin-based cryogel designed with a macroporous architecture to encourage cell infiltration and bone growth. By embedding the neural device within this scaffold, the researchers aimed to maintain implant placement while promoting natural skull regeneration.

The integrated system was tested to evaluate bone regrowth and immune response following implantation. Results showed comparable bone formation between a cryogel-only scaffold and the scaffold containing the neural device. Researchers observed no detectable immune response over a two-week monitoring period, demonstrating compatibility between the electronic components and regenerative material. The findings, published in Advanced Materials Technologies, confirmed the feasibility of combining bioelectronics with tissue engineering.

The approach could eliminate the need for metal plates and screws used to secure implants, potentially reducing complications and enabling longer-term device placement. Applications may include brain-computer interfaces, neurological monitoring, and stimulation therapies for conditions such as Parkinson’s disease or epilepsy.

Future work will focus on refining integration between the scaffold and electronics, incorporating engineered cells, and exploring bioresorbable materials that could dissolve after use, removing the need for additional surgery. Researchers also envision adapting the platform for bone stimulation and soft tissue healing.

“This study shows that it works. You can combine these types of systems, and they both work independently, and that's good,” said Professor Alexander Boys, co-lead investigator of the study. “We can advance and refine our approach of actually fabricating the scaffold around the device to have a more seamless structure between the electronics and the tissue engineering components.”

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