Nanotechnologies in Neuroscience and Neuroengineering

To understand the vast complexity of brain circuitry and its emergent functions, neuroscientists first zoom into the details of neural microcircuits and then zoom out to the large scale of brain macrostructure. An integrative approach that would combine both micro- and macro-scale approaches has not been fully developed yet. Here, we suggest that nanotechnology can serve as an essential tool to resolve this problem.

Nanotechnology can be defined as manipulations of matter on the atomic, molecular and supra-molecular level. In application to Neuroscience and Neuroengineering, these are manipulations at the cellular level of neuron components. During the last decade, we have seen a number of successful applications of nanotechnology methods to basic Neuroscience and to medical practice. It is expected that the development of novel nanotechnologies will result in important insights on the brain mechanisms, and eventually provide better medical care to patients.

We encourage scientists who share our view on the revolutionary role of nanotechnology for Neuroscience to submit their manuscripts to this research topic. We welcome a variety of article types: original research, review, hypothesis and theory, opinions, clinical case, commentary.

We are particularly interested in reports on biomaterials for neural regeneration, characterization of biophysical features of neural cells, advances in molecular genetics of neurons, new insights into the function of neural microcircuits and their degeneration using animal models. Furthermore, we welcome articles on graphene and silicon based nanomaterials/devices, high density nanofabricated neural probes, integrated neural sensors, carbon nanotubes use in neural interfacing applications and other approaches that have already proven feasible for brain machine interfaces. These technologies have the potential to revolutionize our understanding of brain normal functions and disorders. Below is the preliminary list of topics. Additional suggestions are welcome.

 Application of graphene in rewiring neural microcircuits
 Nanotubes, nanowires and nanostructures
 Nano p-n junctions and nanotransistors
 Nanoparticles, nanofluids and blood-brain-barriers
 FET arrays
 Quantum dots
 Nanomagnets
 Nanosensors
 Nanopores and biomembranes
 Microarrays
 Optogenetics
 FRET
 Atomic force microscopy
 Nanoelectrode arrays for minicolumnar recordings
 Intracellular neural recording
 Nanotechnology based brain machine interfaces
 Nanotechnology for clinical evaluation and neural regeneration
 Brain activity mapping
 Functional interactions between nanoparticles and vascular cells, brain endothelium or BBB models
 Safety assessment of nanomaterials used in neurology
 Nanotechnology-based strategies for the diagnosis and treatment in neuromedicine
 Drug delivery and biocompatibility issues of nanomaterials used in neurology