Biomaterials for neuroengineering: applications and challenges

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Neurological injuries and diseases cause significant global disability, necessitating advanced therapeutic strategies.
• Neural regaining and enhancement therapies offer promising solutions, but face challenges in clinical translation.
• Neuroengineering, utilizing biomaterials, is crucial for developing innovative treatments for neurological disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of biomaterials in neuroengineering.
• To highlight applications in neural functional regaining and enhancement.
• To bridge the gap between research and clinical practice for neuroengineering solutions.

Main Methods:

• Review of biomaterial applications in neural tissue engineering, neural interfaces, and drug delivery.
• Analysis of 2D to 3D bioprinted scaffolds, brain-on-a-chip systems, and biomimetic electrodes.
• Exploration of artificial synapses, neural networks, and their role in neural repair and modulation.

Main Results:

• Biomaterials are essential for replicating the brain's cellular environment to facilitate neural repair.
• Recent advancements include bioprinted scaffolds, brain-on-a-chip models, and sophisticated brain-computer interfaces.
• Biomaterials enable applications in modeling neural microenvironments, neural modulation, and integrating traditional Chinese medicine.

Conclusions:

• Biomaterials are pivotal in advancing neuroengineering for neurological repair and enhancement.
• The review covers diverse biomaterial applications from basic research to clinical practice.
• Continued innovation in biomaterials is key to overcoming challenges in translating neuroengineering therapies.