Figure 4.

A) Immune response in the wake of rigid probe implantation. Astrocytes and Microglia adhere to the probe surface, as the foreign body response seeks to encapsulate the implant to protect tissues from further harm. Dystrophic neurons, which have been separated from neuron clusters and suffer degradation, will amass around the probe. B) Reduced foreign body response elicited by a flexible polymer probe. C) The plasma membrane on the outside of a cell is attached to *extracellular matrix (ECM) which is comprised of the proteoglycan complex and collagen fibers.