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SUMMARY:Biomaterial Strategies at the Neural Electronics-Tissue Interface 
 - Dr Tracy Cui - William Kepler Whiteford Professor of Bioengineering at t
 he University of Pittsburgh
DTSTART:20210408T150000Z
DTEND:20210408T160000Z
UID:TALK158677@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Kirsty Shepherd
DESCRIPTION:Microelectronic devices placed in the nervous system present t
 remendous potentials for mapping neural circuits and treating neurological
  disorders. Currently\, the performance of these devices is sub-optimum du
 e to electrode material limitations and undesired host tissue responses. Q
 uantitative histology and 2-photon imaging have revealed neuronal damage a
 nd degeneration\, inflammatory gliosis\, blood brain barrier leakage and o
 xidative stress at the site of implants which may compromise the intended 
 recording/stimulation/neurochemical sensing function. We use several bioma
 terial strategies to minimize these responses in order to achieve seamless
  and stable device-tissue interface.  Conducting polymer based nanocomposi
 tes have been investigated as electrode coatings and facilitate the signal
  transduction/charge transfer between the ionically conductive tissue and 
 the electrical device.  Nanostructuring is employed to improve the adhesio
 n\, stability and charge injection and drug delivery capability of the con
 ducting polymers to meet the material challenges at the neural interface. 
 As we continue to improve our understanding of the implant induced tissue 
 response\, bioactive approaches are being developed to modulate the cellul
 ar responses for seamless integration. Surface modification with bioactive
  molecules or anti-fouling materials have been found to significantly impr
 ove neuronal health and inhibit the inflammatory tissue response around th
 e implants. Alternatively\, therapeutics that control inflammation\, neuro
 degeneration and oxidative stress can be delivered systemically or locally
 . These bioactive approaches demonstrated significant benefit in neural re
 cording quality and longevity. The ultimate solution to a seamless device/
 tissue interface may be a combinatorial approach that takes advantage of m
 ultiple biomimetic strategies discussed above and beyond.
LOCATION:Meeting ID: 837 8058 8985 Passcode: 428653
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