A Clear, Delicate, Biocompatible Optical Window for Brain Imaging

In this work, we present a single-step method to fabricate transparent, flexible optical windows of biocompatible hydrogel material for repeated, long-term optical recordings and stroke monitoring of rodent cortex. The main advantage of the proposed method is that the optical window of any desired shape and size can be conveniently fabricated in a short span of time. The fabrication of the optical window is simple and completed in a single step. Biocompatible hydrogel poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) in the liquid form before curing conforms well to the required shape and size after cross linking. Being a light, transparent and stretchable material provide a practical solution to long-term optical imaging in the anesthetized rat.