NCS-FO: Conformable, expandable neural interface devices to assay natural cognitive maturation of the developing brain

NCS-FO：顺应性、可扩展的神经接口设备，用于测定发育中大脑的自然认知成熟度

• 批准号: 2219891
• 负责人: Dion Khodagholy
• 金额: $ 96.35万
• 依托单位: Columbia University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2022-09-01 至 2026-08-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2219891&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: NCS; FO; Conformable; expandable; neural

Investigating brain circuit development can facilitate understanding of how the brain becomes capable of performing complex cognitive functions. A key missing strategy is the ability to monitor brain activity as an organism transitions to successful performance of behaviors requiring cognitive processes. This project involves using bioelectronic devices that can interface with different brain structures as they naturally growto monitor immature rodents as they perform behaviors in naturalistic environments. These devices will be made out of soft, organic materials that can establish an effective interface with biological tissue with minimal damage. The overall goal of this project is to identify neurophysiologic signatures of emerging cognition, using computational analysis on acquired longitudinal data to track developmental trajectories.The outcomes of this research will improve the efficiency of biomedical devices and provide key insights into principles underlying formation of brain circuits that can support cognition. This work holds promise for guiding public health initiatives that could enable appropriate monitoring of childhood development. From an educational perspective, this project aims to expand training in interdisciplinary initiatives, specificallyfocusing on creating partnerships between engineering and neuroscience trainees and highlighting the iterative feedback process required to transition a device from development to functional utilization.This project aims to addresses focus areas (i) neuroengineering and brain-inspired concepts and designs, and (ii) cognitive and neural processes in realistic, complex environments of NSF Integrative Strategies for Understanding Neural and Cognitive Systems. The overall objective is to use an integrated implantable neural device that enables longitudinal acquisition of neurophysiological data to investigate neuralcorrelates of cognitive processes as animals become capable of performing advanced naturalistic behaviors. The central hypothesis is that organic electronics in combination with soft, expandable substrates can enable monitoring of local field potentials and action potentials from the developing brain without restricting spontaneous behavior. This data will identify predictors of capacity for neural computationsupporting cognition in individual organisms. The rationale for this high-risk/high-payoff research is that novel monitoring approaches that merge engineering and neuroscience expertise are required to derive insight into how cognitive processes emerge in complex environments. The materials, approaches, and data generated by this work have the potential to provide notable medical and social benefits, such as: (i)soft, conformable interfaces for acquisition of neurophysiological activity from the human body; ii) approaches to safely expand neuroelectronic devices to use in pediatric age groups; and iii) accessible wearable bioelectronics for preventive medicine and lifestyle management. Generation of novel datasets from animals involved in naturalistic behavioral and social situations will benefit the neurosciencecommunity and lead to further scientific discoveries. The educational aspects particularly emphasize improving diversity of trainees engaged in STEM research, and providing these trainees with the skills required to form, participate in, and manage projects that require strong interdisciplinary collaboration and involve individuals from disparate training backgrounds. Summative evaluation will be implemented forthese efforts to evaluate overall success in integrating training about core principles of bioelectronics with neuroscientific analysis, with the goal of creating new opportunities for synergy between engineering and neuroscience fields.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.

研究大脑回路的发育可以帮助理解大脑如何能够执行复杂的认知功能。一个关键的缺失策略是当有机体过渡到成功执行需要认知过程的行为时监测大脑活动的能力。该项目涉及使用生物电子设备，该设备可以在自然生长时与不同的大脑结构进行交互，以监测未成熟的啮齿动物在自然环境中的行为。这些装置将由柔软的有机材料制成，可以与生物组织建立有效的界面，而造成的损害最小。该项目的总体目标是通过对获得的纵向数据进行计算分析来识别新兴认知的神经生理学特征，以跟踪发育轨迹。该研究的成果将提高生物医学设备的效率，并为大脑回路形成的基本原理提供重要见解可以支持认知。这项工作有望指导公共卫生举措，从而实现对儿童发育的适当监测。从教育角度来看，该项目旨在扩大跨学科举措的培训，特别注重在工程和神经科学学员之间建立伙伴关系，并强调将设备从开发过渡到功能利用所需的迭代反馈过程。该项目旨在解决重点领域（i ) 神经工程和受大脑启发的概念和设计，以及 (ii) NSF 理解神经和认知系统综合策略的现实、复杂环境中的认知和神经过程。总体目标是使用集成的植入式神经设备，能够纵向采集神经生理学数据，以研究当动物能够执行高级自然行为时认知过程的神经相关性。中心假设是，有机电子器件与柔软的可扩展基板相结合，可以在不限制自发行为的情况下监测发育中大脑的局部场电位和动作电位。这些数据将确定支持个体生物体认知的神经计算能力的预测因子。这项高风险/高回报研究的基本原理是，需要融合工程和神经科学专业知识的新颖监测方法，以深入了解认知过程如何在复杂环境中出现。这项工作产生的材料、方法和数据有可能提供显着的医学和社会效益，例如：（i）用于从人体获取神经生理活动的柔软、舒适的界面； ii) 安全扩展神经电子设备在儿科年龄组中使用的方法； iii) 用于预防医学和生活方式管理的可穿戴生物电子学。从涉及自然行为和社会情境的动物中生成新颖的数据集将有利于神经科学界并带来进一步的科学发现。教育方面特别强调提高参与 STEM 研究的学员的多样性，并为这些学员提供形成、参与和管理需要强有力的跨学科合作并涉及来自不同培训背景的个人的项目所需的技能。这些努力将进行总结性评估，以评估将生物电子学核心原理培训与神经科学分析相结合的总体成功程度，目标是为工程和神经科学领域之间的协同创造新的机会。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并被认为是值得的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来提供支持。

项目成果

Integrated internal ion-gated organic electrochemical transistors for stand-alone conformable bioelectronics

用于独立整合生物电子学的集成内部离子门控有机电化学晶体管

• DOI: 10.1038/s41563-023-01599-w
• 发表时间: 2023-10
• 期刊: Nature Materials
• 影响因子: 41.2
• 作者: Cea, Claudia;Zhao, Zifang;Wisniewski, Duncan J.;Spyropoulos, George D.;Polyravas, Anastasios;Gelinas, Jennifer N.;Khodagholy, Dion
• 通讯作者: Khodagholy, Dion