Flexible-Organic Semiconductor Devices for Targeted Neuron Stimulation and Cell Growth Enhancement

Wireless stimulation is gaining prominence in modern medicine due to its enhanced safety and reduced invasiveness compared to conventional implantable devices. The development of photostimulation devices offers promising solutions for various neurostimulation applications ranging from peripheral nerve regeneration to retinal repair. To enable wireless implantable devices for localized stimulation, it is essential to develop flexible and biocompatible semiconductor devices that minimize mechanical damage to soft tissues. In this study, polyimide films were selected as the optimal substrate material, while phthalocyanine and N,N′-dimethyl perylenetetracarboxylic diimide (PTCDI) served as the semiconductor components of the photostimulation device. Effectiveness of the devices was validated through in vitro experiments using mouse neuroblastoma (Neuro-2A) and ferret brain (Mpf) cell cultures. Experimental results demonstrated a 1.5- to 2.6-fold increase in cell population density following stimulation compared with reference values. These findings confirm that flexible organic semiconductor-based stimulation devices effectively influence cellular behavior. Successful outcomes of this study support the readiness of this technology for further in vivo investigations, paving the way for potential clinical applications in neuroregeneration and bioelectronic medicine.