# Impact of Ethylene Oxide Sterilization on PEDOT:PSS Electrophysiology Electrodes

## TL;DR

This study shows that ethylene oxide sterilization does not harm PEDOT:PSS electrodes used in medical electrophysiology devices.

## Contribution

The first comprehensive evaluation of ethylene oxide sterilization effects on PEDOT:PSS electrodes for biomedical applications.

## Key findings

- EtO sterilization caused minimal changes in surface topography and no detectable alteration in electrical or electrochemical performance.
- Impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry showed EtO-treated electrodes retained properties similar to untreated controls.
- EtO-sterilized PEDOT:PSS coatings showed robust long-term stability with negligible degradation over extended operation.

## Abstract

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)–polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) is widely used to fabricate conductive organic coatings for electrodes in electrophysiology. As these devices move toward clinical translation, establishing sterilization methods that preserve their functional properties is essential. Ethylene oxide (EtO) is routinely used for sterilizing heat- and moisture-sensitive medical devices due to its high penetration efficiency and low thermal load. However, the absence of systematic studies evaluating its impact on PEDOT:PSS raises concerns about the compatibility of EtO sterilization with organic electrophysiology interfaces. Here, we report the first comprehensive evaluation of EtO sterilization on PEDOT:PSS electrodes electrochemically deposited onto cortical interfaces designed for intraoperative monitoring and stimulation. EtO exposure induced only minimal changes in surface topography, with no detectable alteration of the electrical or electrochemical performance of the electrodes. Impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and charge-injection capacity measurements all revealed that EtO-treated electrodes retained properties comparable to untreated controls. Moreover, EtO-sterilized PEDOT:PSS coatings demonstrated robust long-term stability under accelerated lifetime testing, exhibiting negligible degradation over extended operation. These findings demonstrate that EtO sterilization is fully compatible with PEDOT:PSS-based bioelectronic interfaces and constitutes a viable pathway toward their safe and effective integration into clinical electrophysiology. This work represents an important step toward translating organic conducting polymer technologies into real-world biomedical applications.