Smart Brain-Microsystem Interfaces for Efficient Diagnostic and Treatment of Neurodegenerative diseases

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Nowadays, neurodegenerative diseases are behind most neural central system dysfunctions, where an estimated 26% of population suffers from some of these brain disorders (Brain & Behavior Research Foundation), and where little can be done to guaranty accurate diagnostics, and to secure efficient treatment. These circumstances motivated researchers to propose advanced implantable brain-microsystem interfaces in a good standing to facilitate access to various brain regions for both diagnostic and treatment purposes. Despite significant progresses in the development of biointerfaces, further synergism is needed for real-time reliable diagnostics of dysfunctions and efficient treatment procedures. Monitoring neural cell and neurotransmitter activities, and neuromodulate neural functions require design, assembly, and packaging processes of advanced microsystems. ***Our goal in this program is grouped into five main long-term objectives: 1) build wearable signal/image acquisition interfaces intended for prediction and detection of diseases, such as vision and epilepsy, that may be located at the retina level or in various extracortical regions; 2) implement implantable custom biosensors and actuators including massively parallel neurorecording interfaces for neural encoding and neurotransmitters' characterization; 3) harvest energy from radio waveforms to operate proposed microsystems; 4) micromachine metallic/optic 3D Microelectrode arrays to improve neural interfaces; 5) implement low-power high data-rate wireless transceivers.***Our previous long term experience on building smart medical microdevices, and achieved results when testing in cultured neural cells and/or in collaboration with researchers from relevant medical disciplines allowed us to locate the drawbacks of latest devices in order to propose needed advanced bioelectronic tools, which must efficiently interact with neural cells. ***The impact of projected diagnostic techniques and neuroprostheses implementation is expected to be major due to accurately locate the brain neurodegenerative diseases and to efficiently restore cortical functions and subsequently enhance/recover lost vital functions for patients, and understand other unknown diseases. Attention will be paid to train highly qualified personal in these multidisciplinary emerging neurotechnology specialities which are becoming mandatory to help aging population. Also, proposed microsystems involving remote monitoring and treatment, as well as energy harvesting, can be used in several other applications requiring wearable and implantable brain and body sensor networks.