Recent Advances in Materials, Devices, and Systems for Neural Interfaces

Abstract

Technologies capable of establishing intimate, long-lived optical/electrical interfaces to neural systems will play critical roles in neuroscience research and in the development of nonpharmacological treatments for neurological disorders. The development of high-density interfaces to 3D populations of neurons across entire tissue systems in living animals, including human subjects, represents a grand challenge for the field, where advanced biocompatible materials and engineered structures for electrodes and light emitters will be essential. This review summarizes recent progress in these directions, with an emphasis on the most promising demonstrated concepts, materials, devices, and systems. The article begins with an overview of electrode materials with enhanced electrical and/or mechanical performance, in forms ranging from planar films, to micro/nanostructured surfaces, to 3D porous frameworks and soft composites. Subsequent sections highlight integration with active materials and components for multiplexed addressing, local amplification, wireless data transmission, and power harvesting, with multimodal operation in soft, shape-conformal systems. These advances establish the foundations for scalable architectures in optical/electrical neural interfaces of the future, where a blurring of the lines between biotic and abiotic systems will catalyze profound progress in neuroscience research and in human health/well-being.

A Removable Insertion Shuttle for Ultraflexible Neural Probe Implantation with Stable Chronic Brain Electrophysiological Recording

“…Natural micromovements of brain tissues may induce intense stress and inflammation at the interface, where the glial sheath forms to gradually screen signals out . Extensive studies in the last decade have demonstrated that flexible polymer‐based neural probes, which are compliant with brain tissues, can reduce the mechanical interfacial mismatch and are the ideal tool for chronic implantation . However, the low stiffness of flexible neural probe makes it susceptible to bending and buckling during insertion into the brain.…”

“…[5][6][7] Extensive studies in the last decade have demonstrated that flexible polymer-based neural probes, which are compliant with brain tissues, can reduce the mechanical interfacial mismatch and are the ideal tool for chronic implantation. [8][9][10] However, the low stiffness of flexible neural probe makes it susceptible to bending and buckling during insertion into the brain. To deal with this dilemma, several delicate strategies have been developed to guide the insertion such as transient shuttles [11][12][13][14][15][16] with dissolvable support materials such as silk, sugars, hydrogel or polyethylene glycol (PEG) as coatings, metal as rigid backbone layers for insertion, [17][18][19] and removable shuttles [20][21][22][23] with SU-8 shanks or microneedles as temporary carriers.…”

Display meets biology: A vision for ubiquitous healthcare platforms

“…However, advanced convergence systems that directly employ display‐based sensing or treatment solutions are now receiving growing interests. This new generation of technologies seems to result from the discovery of multifunctionality in materials and devices as well as the promotion of interdisciplinary investigations that create unconventional applications . In this review, we provide an overview of recent literature that demonstrates the emergence of display‐based biotechnology and novel healthcare platforms.…”

“…This new generation of technologies seems to result from the discovery of multifunctionality in materials and devices as well as the promotion of interdisciplinary investigations that create unconventional applications. [3][4][5][6][7] In this review, we provide an overview of recent literature that demonstrates the emergence of display-based biotechnology and novel healthcare platforms. Although still being at its early stage, the projected broad applicability and unique features are expected to stimulate a rapid growth of this technology, and this article will categorize and highlight some of the most noticeable systems reported to date.…”

Ultrathin Silicon Nanomembrane in a Tubular Geometry for Enhanced Photodetection

“…The recent advances in 3D mesostructures have given rise to a number of intriguing devices that exhibit unique features, which have broad applications in flexible electronics, photonics, mechanics, and biomedicine . Among various fabrication techniques, rolled‐up nanotechnology is an innovative method that constructs 3D tubular micro/nanostructures out of planar nanomembranes from the top‐down perspective.…”