Soft bioelectronic devices provide new opportunities for next-generation implantable devices owing to their soft mechanical nature that leads to minimal tissue damages and immune responses. However, a soft form of the implantable optoelectronic device for optical sensing and retinal stimulation has not been developed yet because of the bulkiness and rigidity of conventional imaging modules and their composing materials. Here, we describe a high-density and hemispherically curved image sensor array that leverages the atomically thin MoS2-graphene heterostructure and strain-releasing device designs. The hemispherically curved image sensor array exhibits infrared blindness and successfully acquires pixelated optical signals. We corroborate the validity of the proposed soft materials and ultrathin device designs through theoretical modeling and finite element analysis. Then, we propose the ultrathin hemispherically curved image sensor array as a promising imaging element in the soft retinal implant. The CurvIS array is applied as a human eye-inspired soft implantable optoelectronic device that can detect optical signals and apply programmed electrical stimulation to optic nerves with minimum mechanical side effects to the retina.

A novel three dimensional blood brain barrier (BBB) platform was developed by independently supplying different types of media to separate cell types within a single device. One channel (vascular channel, VC) is connected to the inner lumen of the vascular network while the other supplies media to the neural cells (neural channel, NC). Compared to co-cultures supplied with only one type of medium (or 1:1 mixture), best barrier properties and viability were obtained with culturing HUVECs with endothelial growth medium (EGM) and neural cells with neurobasal medium supplemented with fetal bovine serum (NBMFBS) independently. The measured vascular network permeability were comparable to reported in vivo values (20 kDa FITC-dextran, 0.45 ± 0.11 × 10−6 cm/s; 70 kDa FITC-dextran, 0.36 ± 0.05 × 10−6 cm/s) and a higher degree of neurovascular interfacing (astrocytic contact with the vascular network, GFAP-CD31 stain overlap) and presence of synapses (stained with synaptophysin). The BBB platform can dependably imitate the perivascular network morphology and synaptic structures characteristic of the NVU. This microfluidic BBB model can find applications in screening pharmaceuticals that target the brain for in neurodegenerative diseases.

Erlotinib seems to be a potential therapeutic option for the treatment of advanced NSCLC patients with wild-type EGFR who had SD while receiving gefitinib.

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