Implantable devices that communicate with the nervous system have emerged as important tools in both neuroscience research and medical applications. By sensing and modulating neural activity, these devices help us to better understand the vast complexity of brain circuitry and functions, and also provide novel approaches for treating neurological diseases and injuries by controlling micro-drug delivery or micro-stimulation. Upon implantation, these devices are required to function reliably over a prolonged period, and, ideally over the patient’s lifetime. As the core components of the devices, the interfacing materials can largely determine the reliability and stability of the devices, and therefore have been a major focus of these technological developments.
The overall goal of this Research Topic is to present and discuss recent developments in novel materials for neural interfacing. Representative materials include carbon-based materials (graphene, carbon nanotubes, and conductive diamond), conductive polymers, and different types of nanoparticles. In addition to traditional electrical communication, these new materials enable highly efficient communication via many pathways, including chemical, optical, magnetic, and mechanical. Foreign tissue response has been identified as one major challenge in the long-term functionality of implantable devices. Significant effects have therefore been made to minimize foreign tissue responses by designing materials and structures to reduce the damage upon implantation and to better mimic their surrounding biological environment.
In this Research Topic, we welcome authors to submit Original Research, Review, and Mini-Review articles focusing on, but not limited to the following subtopics:
• Design, fabrication, and testing of nanomaterials or/and nanostructures for neural recording and stimulation
• Optimization of nanomaterials and nanostructures for reducing foreign tissue responses
• Experimental and computational studies on material/neuron interfaces
• Development of miniaturized implantable devices
Implantable devices that communicate with the nervous system have emerged as important tools in both neuroscience research and medical applications. By sensing and modulating neural activity, these devices help us to better understand the vast complexity of brain circuitry and functions, and also provide novel approaches for treating neurological diseases and injuries by controlling micro-drug delivery or micro-stimulation. Upon implantation, these devices are required to function reliably over a prolonged period, and, ideally over the patient’s lifetime. As the core components of the devices, the interfacing materials can largely determine the reliability and stability of the devices, and therefore have been a major focus of these technological developments.
The overall goal of this Research Topic is to present and discuss recent developments in novel materials for neural interfacing. Representative materials include carbon-based materials (graphene, carbon nanotubes, and conductive diamond), conductive polymers, and different types of nanoparticles. In addition to traditional electrical communication, these new materials enable highly efficient communication via many pathways, including chemical, optical, magnetic, and mechanical. Foreign tissue response has been identified as one major challenge in the long-term functionality of implantable devices. Significant effects have therefore been made to minimize foreign tissue responses by designing materials and structures to reduce the damage upon implantation and to better mimic their surrounding biological environment.
In this Research Topic, we welcome authors to submit Original Research, Review, and Mini-Review articles focusing on, but not limited to the following subtopics:
• Design, fabrication, and testing of nanomaterials or/and nanostructures for neural recording and stimulation
• Optimization of nanomaterials and nanostructures for reducing foreign tissue responses
• Experimental and computational studies on material/neuron interfaces
• Development of miniaturized implantable devices
