Bioinspired neuron-like electronics

• Published in: Nature materials Vol. 18; no. 5; pp. 510 - 517
• Main Authors: Yang, Xiao, Zhou, Tao, Zwang, Theodore J., Hong, Guosong, Zhao, Yunlong, Viveros, Robert D., Fu, Tian-Ming, Gao, Teng, Lieber, Charles M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.05.2019; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 639/301; 639/301/54; 639/301/54/989; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Astrocytes - cytology; Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Biomaterials; Biomedical materials; Biomimetics; Brain; Brain - diagnostic imaging; Brain - growth & development; Brain Mapping; Brain-Computer Interfaces; Cells (biology); Chemistry and Materials Science; Condensed Matter Physics; Electrodes, Implanted; Electronics; Electrophysiological Phenomena; Electrophysiology; Green Fluorescent Proteins - metabolism; Hippocampus - diagnostic imaging; Histology; Humans; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Implantation; Inflammation; Male; Mapping; Materials Science; Materials Testing; Mechanical properties; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Transgenic; Migration; Nanomedicine; Nanotechnology; Neurites; Neurons; Neurons - physiology; Optical and Electronic Materials; Probes; Refractometry; Research Design; Stereotaxic Techniques; Stress, Mechanical; Surgical implants; Time dependence; Transplantation
• ISSN: 1476-1122; 1476-4660
• DOI: 10.1038/s41563-019-0292-9

As an important application of functional biomaterials, neural probes have contributed substantially to studying the brain. Bioinspired and biomimetic strategies have begun to be applied to the development of neural probes, although these and previous generations of probes have had structural and mechanical dissimilarities from their neuron targets that lead to neuronal loss, neuroinflammatory responses and measurement instabilities. Here, we present a bioinspired design for neural probes—neuron-like electronics (NeuE)—where the key building blocks mimic the subcellular structural features and mechanical properties of neurons. Full three-dimensional mapping of implanted NeuE–brain interfaces highlights the structural indistinguishability and intimate interpenetration of NeuE and neurons. Time-dependent histology and electrophysiology studies further reveal a structurally and functionally stable interface with the neuronal and glial networks shortly following implantation, thus opening opportunities for next-generation brain–machine interfaces. Finally, the NeuE subcellular structural features are shown to facilitate migration of endogenous neural progenitor cells, thus holding promise as an electrically active platform for transplantation-free regenerative medicine. Neural probes mimicking the size and mechanical properties of neurons interpenetrate the brain tissue, allowing stable single-unit recordings from implantation up to at least three months, and acting as scaffolds for the migration of new-born neurons.