Special Session IC-3.F
State-of-the-art Biomaterials and Bioelectronics for Next Generation Implantable Neural Interfaces
ABSTRACTS
IC-3.F:IL34 Materials Strategies for Organic Transistors in Bioelectronics
A.D. SCACCABAROZZI, Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy; and Center for Nano Science and Technology (CNST), Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Milano, Italy
Organic transistors are key components in emerging bioelectronic interfaces, where intimate communication with neural tissue requires electronic devices that transduce, process, and modulate bioelectrical signals efficiently while remaining mechanically and chemically compatible with the biological environment. In this context, the performance of the device is dictated by a complex interplay between intrinsic material properties, microstructural organization, mixed ionic–electronic transport mechanisms, interfacial energetics, and mechanical compliance with the surrounding tissue. In this lecture, I will discuss recent material strategies that enable high-performing organic transistors for bioelectronic applications, with a focus on electrolyte-gated (EGOFETs) and organic electrochemical transistor (OECTs) architectures. I will highlight approaches to modulate mixed ionic–electronic conductivity through molecular design, control of thin-film microstructure, and processing routes. Particular emphasis will be placed on strategies to enhance long-term operational stability, achieve intimate integration between living cells and organic semiconductors, and implement eco-design principles that improve the environmental sustainability of bioelectronic devices.
IC-3.F:IL35 Conducting Polymer Scaffolds for Next-generation Bioelectronic Platforms
C. PITSALIDIS, Khalifa University of Science and Technology & Advanced Research and Innovation Center (ARIC), Abu Dhabi, UAE
The rise of conducting scaffolds and related composite architectures is driving the development of next-generation bioelectronic interfaces. This presentation highlights a series of platforms that seamlessly integrate electrical functionality with biologically relevant architectures, enabling multifunctional biointerfaces. By combining conducting polymers with 2D materials, biopolymers, and hydrogels in diverse configurations, we engineer platforms that unite drug delivery, real-time sensing, and regenerative capabilities. These scaffolds modulate biological processes through tunable electrical and chemical cues, while their adaptable formats, ranging from composite matrices and stratified frameworks to soft, stimuli-responsive hydrogels, allow seamless integration into both in vitro and in vivo models. Beyond serving as structural supports, these platforms function as active biointerfaces capable of stimulating, sensing, and dynamically responding to their environment. Collectively, this body of work illustrates how conducting polymer scaffold architectures can bridge the fields of materials science and bioelectronics, opening up new directions in tissue engineering.
IC-3.F:IL36 Retinal Prostheses: History, Key Technologies, and Future Perspectives
YASUO TERASAWA1,3, HIROYUKI TASHIRO2,3, JUN OHTA3, TAKESHI MORIMOTO4, 1R&D Div., NIDEK CO., LTD., Gamagori, Japan; 2Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Japan; 3Institute for Research Initiatives, Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST), Japan; 4Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Japan
A retinal prosthesis is a medical device that sends visual information to patients with blindness by stimulating the retina electrically. Some retinal prostheses have already been approved by the relevant authorities and commercialized. Currently, several research groups worldwide are developing the next generation of retinal and cortical prostheses using various approaches. Some use a small, fine electrode array to achieve high spatial resolution, while others use a large-area array to enable a large field of view. Our consortium has been developing a retinal prosthesis using suprachoroidal transretinal stimulation. This presentation will cover the history of retinal prostheses, as well as the key electrical and mechanical technologies. The pros and cons of the different approaches will be summarized. Current ongoing studies aimed at improving efficacy, such as spatiotemporal resolution and field of view, will then be reviewed. Finally, the technical, ethical, regulatory challenges and proposed solutions will be summarized.
IC-3.F:IL37 Bioelectronic Interfaces for Decoding Neural Circuits of Metabolic Regulation
A. GÜEMES1, A.J. BOYS2, L. MA3, D. KHODAGHOLY3, G.G. MALLIARAS1, R.M. OWENS4, 1Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; 2Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College; Hanover, NH, USA; 3Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA; 4Department of Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
Neural circuits play a critical role in metabolic regulation, with the vagus nerve (VN) and enteric nervous system (ENS) acting as key conduits between the brain and peripheral organs. Advances in bioelectronic interfaces now enable interfacing with these neural pathways, mostly through stimulation, offering insights into physiological and pathological processes. However, stable and selective recordings remain a challenge. I will present two bioelectronic interfaces designed to improve neural signal acquisition from the VN and ENS: conformable thin-film electrodes with conductive polymer microelectrodes, and self-folding polymeric nerve cuffs, both engineered for chronic implantation to ensure stable, high-resolution recordings. These devices have enabled the recording of neural responses to feeding and stress in awake rats. The complexity of these neural signals require advanced analytical approaches to extract meaningful information. To address this, I will outline a signal processing strategy that leverages multi-band frequency analysis and feature extraction to identify neural patterns encoding metabolic state, thereby providing deeper insights into the dynamic contributions of the VN and ENS to metabolic regulation. This work offers a new window into the gut–brain axis.
IC-3.F:IL38 Minimally Invasive Neuroelectronics
ANQI ZHANG, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
Neuroelectronic interfaces have enabled significant advances in both fundamental neuroscience research and the treatment of neurological disorders. However, current neuroelectronic devices have a clear trade-off between invasiveness and spatial resolution, and are unable to achieve seamless integration into the nervous system with cell-type specificity. In this talk, I will first introduce an ultra-small and flexible endovascular neural probe that can be implanted into sub-100-micron scale blood vessels in the brains of rodents without damaging the brain or vasculature. Second, I will describe a biochemically functionalized electronic probe that enables cell type- and neuron subtype-specific targeting and recording in the brain. Finally, I will discuss future advances toward clinical translation of minimally invasive neuroelectronic interfaces capable of long-term monitoring and treatment of neurological disorders.
IC-3.F:IL39 Optoelectronic Implants for Neural Interfaces
XING SHENG, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Bio-integrated high performance inorganic optoelectronic devices will provide new insights on interactions between light and bio-systems. Here we present unconventional strategies to design and fabricate microscale, thin-film optoelectronics devices including micro-LEDs and photodetectors that can be formed via epitaxial liftoff and transfer printing techniques. These microscale devices can be heterogeneously integrated on flexible and stretchable substrates and interact with biological systems for biomedical applications. In particular, we produce multifunctional neural probes that can be directly implanted into the deep brain of freely moving animals, modulating and detecting neural activities in vivo. These photonic implants interrogate the nervous systems, providing insights for fundamental neuroscience studies and promises for medical applications.
IC-3.F:IL40 Iridium Oxide Based Electrodes for Bio-Interface Applications
PO-CHUN CHEN, Department of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei, Taiwan
Iridium oxide (IrOx) has received significant attention due to its exceptional properties, including excellent chemical stability, high sensitivity, remarkable electrochemical catalytic activity, good electrical conductivity, and favorable biocompatibility. These advantages lead to its widespread use in various applications. Notably, its outstanding charge storage capacity and long-term stability make IrOx a promising candidate for use as a bio-interface electrode in implantable biomedical electronic devices. We developed a solution-based process to fabricate IrOx films tailored for bio-interface applications. The IrOx films exhibited robust electrochemical performance, with excellent charge storage capacity and charge injection capability. Moreover, this solution process enables the fabrication of IrOx hybrid films by incorporating plasma proteins, which further enhance electroactivity and enable controlled electrically responsive protein release to stimulate neuronal activity. Together, these features highlight the multifunctional potential of IrOx films as advanced electrodes for bio-interface applications.