Recent advances in neural interfaces - Materials chemistry to clinical translation

Christopher J. Bettinger, Melanie Ecker, Takashi Daniel Yoshida Kozai, George G. Malliaras, Ellis Meng, Walter Voit

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

Implantable neural interfaces are important tools to accelerate neuroscience research and translate clinical neurotechnologies. The promise of a bidirectional communication link between the nervous system of humans and computers is compelling, yet important materials challenges must be first addressed to improve the reliability of implantable neural interfaces. This perspective highlights recent progress and challenges related to arguably two of the most common failure modes for implantable neural interfaces: (1) compromised barrier layers and packaging leading to failure of electronic components; (2) encapsulation and rejection of the implant due to injurious tissue-biomaterials interactions, which erode the quality and bandwidth of signals across the biology-technology interface. Innovative materials and device design concepts could address these failure modes to improve device performance and broaden the translational prospects of neural interfaces. A brief overview of contemporary neural interfaces is presented and followed by recent progress in chemistry, materials, and fabrication techniques to improve in vivo reliability, including novel barrier materials and harmonizing the various incongruences of the tissue-device interface. Challenges and opportunities related to the clinical translation of neural interfaces are also discussed.
Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)655-668
Number of pages14
JournalMRS Bulletin
Volume45
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 4 2020
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2022-06-14
Acknowledged KAUST grant number(s): OSR-2016-CRG5-3003
Acknowledgements: The authors would like to acknowledge the members of the biomaterials and neural interfaces communities whose work could not be included due to space limitations. C.J.B. acknowledges financial support provided by the following organizations: The Kavli Foundation; National Institutes of Health (R21NS095250; R21EB026073); the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (D14AP00040); the National Science Foundation (DMR1542196). E.M. acknowledges financial support provided by the following organizations: National Science Foundation (CBET1343193) and the National Institutes of Health (U24NS113647; U01NS099703). T.D.Y.K. acknowledges financial support provided by the following organizations: the National Institutes of Health (R01NS094396, R21NS108098, R01NS105691); the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA-BAA-16–09-NESD-FP-001); the National Science Foundation (CAREER 1943906). G.G.M. acknowledges support from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program under Grant Agreement No. 732032 (BrainCom) and from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology Office of Sponsored Research under Award No. OSR-2016-CRG5-3003.
This publication acknowledges KAUST support, but has no KAUST affiliated authors.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Materials Science
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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