MIT Engineers Create Soft, Metal-Free Electrodes for Next-Gen Implants.

MIT engineers have developed a soft, conductive polymer hydrogel that could replace metal in implantable electrodes for medical devices such as pacemakers and deep-brain stimulators. The material, which can be made into printable ink, has shown promise in preliminary animal tests for maintaining stability and effectively transmitting electrical pulses, with less inflammation and scarring compared to traditional metal electrodes. The researchers used a new recipe to mix conductive polymers with hydrogels in a way that enhanced both the electrical and mechanical properties of the respective ingredients, resulting in a 3D-printable, Jell-O-like electrode that can potentially replace metal to stimulate nerves and interface with the heart, brain, and other organs in the body.