Integrating living biomaterials into neuroelectronic systems

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience and Bioengineering
• Biomaterials Science
• Computer Science

Background:

• Current neural interface technologies rely on nonbiological electrodes with limitations in adapting to dynamic neural tissue.
• Advances in microscale manufacturing have produced sophisticated neural probes with diverse form factors.
• Existing platforms combine rigid-to-soft architectures and inorganic/organic materials for improved brain compatibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent progress, challenges, and emerging directions in integrating living biomaterials with neuroelectronic systems.
• To explore the potential of living biomaterials-integrated neuroelectronics for adaptive, bidirectional brain-computer interfaces.
• To frame biohybrid neural interfaces as a convergence of in vitro and in vivo approaches.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent literature on cell sources for device integration.
• Analysis of advances in in vitro microelectrode array (MEA) platforms.
• Examination of cell-integrated, living electrodes for in vivo neural interfacing.

Main Results:

• Living biomaterials offer potential for technologies that adapt to the host environment and conform to living tissue.
• Integration of living systems can leverage inherent regenerative and plastic capacities for improved neural interfacing.
• Biohybrid neural interfaces represent a promising path toward seamless and adaptive brain-computer connections.

Conclusions:

• Living biomaterials-integrated neuroelectronics could overcome limitations of current nonbiological electrodes.
• The convergence of in vitro and in vivo strategies is key to developing advanced biohybrid neural interfaces.
• Future directions point towards adaptive, regenerative, and bidirectional neural interfacing technologies.