| Abstract Scope |
Advanced electronic/optoelectronic systems built using classes of nanomaterials that enable intimate integration with soft tissues of the brain, the spinal cord and the peripheral nerves will accelerate progress in neuroscience research; they will also serve as the foundations for new approaches in regenerative medicine and in the treatment of neurodegenerative disease. Specifically, capabilities for injecting miniaturized electronic elements, light sources, photodetectors, multiplexed sensors, programmable microfluidic networks and other components into precise locations of the deep brain or for softly laminating them onto the surfaces of peripheral nerves will open up unique and important opportunities in stimulating, inhibiting and monitoring neural circuit behaviors. This presentation describes concepts in materials science and assembly processes that underpin these types of technologies, including bioresorbable, or ‘transient’, devices designed to disappear into the body on timescales matched to natural processes. Examples include ‘cellular-scale’ optofluidic neural probes for optogenetics research, systems for control of bladder function by closed-loop neuromodulation and bioelectronics ‘medicines’ for accelerated regeneration of damaged peripheral nerves. |