A collaborative team from Harvard’s SEAS, The University of Texas at Austin, MIT, and Axoft, Inc., has introduced an innovative implantable device, marking a significant advancement in neuroscience and bioengineering.
This device is ingeniously designed to integrate seamlessly with the brain’s soft tissue, enabling the long-term, high-resolution monitoring of individual neuron activities. This significant breakthrough, detailed in a publication in Nature Nanotechnology, marks a pivotal moment in our quest to unravel the complexities of neural circuits. It heralds a new era of potential for advanced medical treatments and the evolution of brain-computer interfaces. It addresses a longstanding dilemma: the balance between the depth of neural data acquired and the longevity of implantable devices within the brain.
Historically, the field has been constrained by a trade-off that devices made from rigid, silicon-based materials capable of capturing extensive neural data have a limited lifespan once implanted due to their incompatibility with the brain’s delicate tissue. Conversely, more flexible and less invasive devices, capable of remaining invested for extended periods, capture only a limited slice of the vast neural information available.
The research team has crafted a solution that transcends this trade-off, creating a device that offers both the durability required for long-term implantation and the ability to capture detailed neural data.
The innovation at the heart of this device is the use of fluorinated elastomers, materials known for their resilience, biofluid stability, and compatibility with microfabrication techniques. These materials, which share properties with well-known fluorinated compounds like Teflon, have been integrated with an array of soft microelectrodes—64 in total—to produce a probe that is significantly softer than those made from traditional engineering plastics, such as polyimide or parylene C.
The effectiveness of this device was demonstrated through rigorous in vivo experiments with mice, where it consistently recorded detailed neural data from both the brain and spinal cord over several months.
This success underscores the potential of this technology to revolutionise the design and application of neural interfaces. Jia Liu, Assistant Professor of Bioengineering at SEAS and the study’s corresponding author emphasised their approach’s significance, stating, “Our research highlights that, by carefully engineering various factors, it is feasible to design novel elastomers for long-term-stable neural interfaces.”
This insight not only underscores the potential of their findings to expand the design possibilities for neural interfaces but also highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in overcoming the complex challenges inherent in designing neural probes and interfaces.
The project benefited from the collective expertise of a diverse group of researchers, including Siyuan Zhao, Ren Liu, Nicola Molinari, and Eder Medina, whose contributions were instrumental in realising this innovative technology.
This research promises to deepen our understanding of neural mechanisms, foster the development of new medical therapies, and set the stage for the future of brain-computer interfaces. By pioneering the use of fluorinated elastomers to create a soft, durable neural probe, the team has made a significant advancement towards the harmonious integration of electronics with the human nervous system, opening new pathways for the exploration and interaction with the brain’s intricate networks.
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Isabella Sterling
Content Producer and Writer
Nano Magazine | The Breakthrough
