MSE 298 Seminar: Translational Neuroelectronics

Abstract: Our understanding of the brain’s pathophysiology relies on discoveries in neuroscience and neurology fueled by sophisticated bioelectronics enabling visualization and manipulation of neural circuits at multiple spatial and temporal resolutions. In parallel, to facilitate clinical translation of advanced materials, devices and technologies, all components of bioelectronic devices have to be considered. Organic electronics offer a unique approach to device design, due to their mixed ionic/electronic conduction, mechanical flexibility, enhanced biocompatibility and capability for drug delivery. We design, develop and characterize conformable, stretchable organic electronic devices based on conducting polymer-based electrodes, particulate electronic composites, high-performance transistors, conformable integrated circuits and ion-based data communication. These devices established new experimental paradigms that allowed monitoring of the emergence of neural circuits during development in rodents and elucidated patterns of neural network maturation in the developing brain. Furthermore, the biocompatibility of the devices also allowed intra-operative recording from patients undergoing epilepsy and deep brain stimulation surgeries, highlighting the translational capacity of this class of neural interface devices. In parallel, we are developing the fully-implantable, conformable implantable integrated circuits based on high-speed internal ionic gated organic electrochemical transistors that can perform the entire chain of signal acquisition, processing and transmission without the need of hard Si-based devices. This multidisciplinary approach will enable the development of new devices based on organic electronics, with broad applicability to the understanding of physiologic and pathologic network activity, control of brain-machine interfaces and therapeutic closed-loop devices.