Toward the Next Generation of Neural Iontronic Interfaces

Csaba Forró, Simon Musall, Viviana Rincón Montes, John Linkhorst, Peter Walter, Matthias Wessling, Andreas Offenhäusser, Sven Ingebrandt, Yvonne Weber, Angelika Lampert, Francesca Santoro Advanced Healthcare Materials (2023). https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.202301055

Our IBI-3 colleagues Csaba Forro, Simon Musall, Viviana Ricon Montes, Andreas Offenhäusser, Francesca Santoro and other researchers at RWTH Aachen University, published a perspective review paper on the development of neural interfaces.

Neural interfaces are evolving at a rapid pace owing to advances in material science and fabrication, reduced cost of scalable complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technologies, and highly interdisciplinary teams of researchers and engineers that span a large range from basic to applied and clinical sciences. This study outlines currently established technologies, defined as instruments and biological study systems that are routinely used in neuroscientific research. After identifying the shortcomings of current technologies, such as a lack of biocompatibility, topological optimization, low bandwidth, and lack of transparency, it maps out promising directions along which progress should be made to achieve the next generation of symbiotic and intelligent neural interfaces. Lastly, it proposes novel applications that can be achieved by these developments, ranging from the understanding and reproduction of synaptic learning to live-long multimodal measurements to monitor and treat various neuronal disorders.

FIGURE 1. To harness the full potential of neural interfaces to interoperate with neural systems, they will have to integrate seamlessly into the biological tissue.

Publication: Forro C., Musall S., Ricon Montes V. et al. Toward the Next Generation of Neural Iontronic Interfaces. Adv. Healthcare Mater. 2023, 12, 2301055 https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.202301055

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