Neuro-X seminar: Tissue-Like Neuroelectronics

ABSTRACT

The modern neuro-electronic components are rigid, solid, and stiff – a terrible match for soft, squishy, and deformable tissue such as the human brain. The material mismatch results in the conceptual incompatibility of modern electronics with biological tissue. Nanoscale materials, such as graphene and other 2D materials, on the other hand, are unique constructs: in addition to their apparent unobtrusive atomic thickness, they are flexible, transparent, and biocompatible, matching perfectly with biological tissue.
In this talk, I will introduce state-of-the-art implantable bioelectronic technologies and expose their limitations. After uncovering the limits of modern technologies, I will introduce to the audience how can we empower the next-generation neuroelectronic devices using 2D materials (graphene, MoS₂, PtSe₂, PtTe₂, hBN, and other emerging ones). Specifically:

• I will show how graphene-based microelectrode arrays and field-effect transistors can be used to efficiently communicate with neuronal cells;
• I will introduce atomically thin electronic tattoos made of graphene that was used to non-invasively monitor human electrophysiology in wearable conditions as the way toward building implantable systems;
• I will show our novel biocompatible artificial synaptic transistors that can mimic biological synapse behavior and provide the route toward tissue-like neuroelectronic implants;