Neural Probes for Electrical and Chemical Sensing

描述(申请人提供)：我们的长期研究目标是开发植入式神经技术，用于长期和高保真的与中枢神经系统的微型电气和化学接口。这个为期两年的项目的目标是通过将化学传感器集成到目前用于神经记录、刺激和微型药物注射的微细制造的薄膜硅器件上，开发一种新型的多模式神经探头。第一个具体目标是开发和表征两种电活性神经化学物质(多巴胺和5-羟色胺)的集成化学传感，以及同时进行的电生理记录。主要任务包括开发电极位置材料，将参比电极集成到探针衬底上，以及表征用于同时进行神经化学传感和电生理记录的电极位置间距。第二个具体目标是开发和表征两种非电活性神经化学物质(乙酰胆碱和谷氨酸)的集成化学传感，以及同时进行的电生理记录和药物的微流控传递。这一目标的主要任务包括开发用于酶包埋的聚合物井和导电聚合物涂层，并表征传感器的性能。在这两个目标中，将通过台式测试和体内急性实验对多模式设备进行定量评估和系统改进。该项目通过开发一种新技术，将精确、高分辨率的神经化学传感与高保真神经记录和靶向药物输送相结合，极大地扩展了微尺度神经接口的最新技术。这项技术很可能为开发一种新型植入式设备提供坚实的基础，这种设备将使下一代闭环式神经假体和神经调节系统能够改善帕金森氏症和严重运动障碍等神经疾病和损伤的治疗。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Our long-term research goal is to develop implantable neurotechnologies for long-term and high fidelity microscale electrical and chemical interfaces to the central nervous system. The objective of this two-year project is to develop a new type of multi-modal neural probe by integrating chemical sensors on microfabricated thin-film silicon devices that are presently used for neural recording, stimulation, and microscale drug injection. The first specific aim is to develop and characterize integrated chemical sensing of two electroactive neurochemicals (dopamine and serotonin), along with concurrent electrophysiological recording. The primary tasks include developing electrode site materials, integrating a reference electrode onto the probe substrate, and characterizing 'electrode site spacing for concurrent neurochemical sensing and electrophysiological recording. The second specific aim is to develop arid characterize integrated chemical sensing of two non-electroactive neurochemicals (acetylcholine and glutamate), along with concurrent electrophysiological recording and microfluidic delivery of pharmacological agents. The primary tasks of this aim include developing polymer wells and conductive polymer coatings for enzyme entrapment and characterizing sensor performance. In both aims, the multi-modal devices will be quantitatively evaluated and systematically refined through bench top testing and in vivo acute experiments. This project significantly extends the state-of-the-art for microscale neural interfaces by developing a new technology that combines precise, high-resolution neurochemical sensing with high-fidelity neural recording and targeted drug delivery. This technology is likely to provide a solid foundation for developing a new class of implantable device that will enable next-generation, closed-loop neuroprostheses and neuromodulation systems for improved treatments of neurological disease and injury, such as Parkinson's Disease and severe movement disorders.