Flexible Optoelectronic Systems for Chronic Bi-Directional Neural Interfacing

了解大脑如何产生行为和心理过程，如认知功能，是神经科学的主要目标之一。大脑由数百万个神经元组成，这些神经元相互连接，形成不同的电路，以协调的方式传递信号。为了分析神经回路活动如何导致行为，神经科学家依靠技术来操纵和跟踪活动物中神经元的信号传输。该项目旨在开发一种新的接口设备技术，能够在行为动物中实现长期稳定的、光学的、多区域的和双向的神经通信。这种灵活的神经接口设备的成功开发将使人们能够对人类大脑功能的机制有新的了解，并改进帕金森氏症等神经心理疾病的治疗方案。该项目的另一个目标是开设一门关于生物电子学的新课程，其中包括关于薄膜电子器件的层转移过程的密集实验模块，旨在为K-12研究生提供将教科书理论应用于研究实验室环境或行业的机会。最先进的神经技术依靠光纤或微型显微镜将光传输到动物的大脑和从动物的大脑传出，大脑的设计是为了产生蛋白质，使神经元与特定波长的光相互作用。然而，这两种方法都存在分辨率低和无法与大脑深层区域的神经元相互作用等问题，这限制了它们在全脑范围内连接的潜力。该项目旨在通过柔性几何结构的薄膜III-V光电器件的异质集成来开发一种新型的基于半导体的光学脑机接口来解决这些问题。集成独立的单晶层微型LED和光电探测器可以产生一种新的设备平台，能够同时进行光遗传神经调节和行为小鼠大脑的功能记录。这种技术的发展需要广泛的技能，包括神经探头的设计、外延生长、层转移和微制造，以及活体演示，包括外科植入、输入/输出互连、光学刺激和记录以及数据分析。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Understanding how the brain produces behavior and mental processes such as cognitive functions is one of the major goals in neuroscience. The brain consists of millions of neurons that are interconnected and form distinct circuits that transmit signals in coordinated manners. To analyze how neural circuit activity lead to behavior, neuroscientists rely on technologies to manipulate and track signal transmission of neurons in live animals. This project aims to develop strategies to form a novel interfacing device technology capable of chronically stable, optical, multi-regional, and bi-directional neural communication in behaving animals. Successful development of the flexible neural interfacing device would enable newfound understanding of the mechanism of human brain functions, as well as improved treatment protocols for neuropsychological diseases such as the Parkinson’s disease. Another aim of this project is to create a new course on bioelectronics that include intensive lab modules on layer-transfer processes for thin-film electronic devices, aimed at providing K-12 to graduate students opportunities to apply textbook theories to research laboratory settings or industry. The state-of-the-art neurotechnologies rely on optical fibers or miniaturized microscopes to deliver light to and from the animal’s brain, which is engineered to produce proteins that make neurons interact with light at specific wavelengths. The two approaches, however, suffer problems such as poor resolution and inability to interact with neurons in deep brain regions, respectively, which limit their potential for brain-wide interfacing. This project aims to address these issues by developing a novel semiconductor-based optical brain-machine interface via the heterointegration of thin-film III-V optoelectronic devices in flexible geometries. Integration of freestanding, single-crystalline layers of micro-LEDs and photodetectors can yield a novel device platform capable of simultaneous optogenetic neuromodulation and functional recording in behaving mouse brains. The development of such technology requires wide range of skillset including the design, epitaxial growth, layer-transfer, and micro-fabrication of the neural probe, as well as in vivo demonstration including surgical implantation, input/output interconnection, optical stimulation and recording, and data analysis.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.