Neural implants contain integrated circuits (ICs) -- commonly called chips -- built on silicon. These implants need to be small and flexible to mimic circumstances inside the human body. However, the environment within the body is corrosive, which raises concerns about the durability of implantable silicon ICs. A team of researchers address this challenge by studying the degradation mechanisms of silicon ICs in the body and by coating them with soft PDMS elastomers to form body-fluid barriers that offer long-term protection to implantable chips. These findings not only enhance the longevity of implantable ICs but also significantly broaden their applications in the biomedical field.
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