Flexible fMRI-Compatible Neural Probes with Organic Semiconductor based Multi-modal Sensors for Closed Loop Neuromodulation

灵活的 fMRI 兼容神经探针，带有基于有机半导体的多模态传感器，用于闭环神经调节

• 批准号: 2336525
• 负责人: Jingyan Dong
• 金额: $ 60.53万
• 依托单位: North Carolina State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2024
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2024-07-01 至 2027-06-30
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2336525&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Flexible; fMRI; Compatible; Neural; Probes

Neural probe sensing and modulation have been demonstrated as effective tools for diagnosing and treating numerous neurological disorders as well as for understanding sophisticated connections and functions of neuron circuits. To advance the understanding of neural circuit dynamics and closed-loop neuromodulation, it is essential to investigate the integrated functional processes of the brain circuits using a combination of techniques, including functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), electrophysiology, optical sensing and stimulation, and neurochemistry. Accommodating all these multi-modal functions within a single probe that is also fMRI compatible is a critically important but challenging research problem. The novel flexible fMRI compatible neural probe with multi-modal functions that will be developed in this project addresses the limitations of existing neural probe systems and has the potential to revolutionize a host of applications for fundamental brain research and neurological disorders treatment. Moreover, by integrating research and education, this project will link the research outcomes and the activities of future workforce participants to satisfy the needs of the modern industry for biosensors, neural probe fabrication, and medical instrumentation.The objective of this project is to investigate a flexible neural probe with multi-modal sensing and modulation functions compatible with fMRI for advanced personalized neurological research and treatments. A flexible multi-shank neural probe will be designed and fabricated using polymeric materials to provide deep brain sensing and modulation under fMRI, which enables comprehensive understanding and closed-loop control of the nervous system. The multi-modal functions, including organic electrolyte-gated transistors (OEGTs) based neural potential recording, polymer waveguide-enabled optogenetics and photodiode-based photometry, and organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) based neurochemical sensors, will be custom integrated into the probe. Compared with traditional electrode-based neural probes, the proposed probe adopts a variety of organic semiconductor (OSC) based sensors for electrical, optical, and chemical sensing, significantly improving the sensitivity and selectivity of the current neural sensing and modulation techniques. To demonstrate the platform’s potential for treating neurological disorders, the novel multi-modal neural probes will be applied in vivo in animal models to dynamically control the activity of target brain neural circuits in a closed loop while simultaneously monitoring their activity pattern using adjacent channels.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.

神经探针敏感性和调节已被证明是诊断和治疗众多神经系统疾病的有效工具，以及了解神经元电路的复杂连接和功能。为了促进对神经元电路动力学和闭环神经调节的理解，必须使用技术组合（包括功能性磁共振成像（FMRI），电生理学，光学敏感性和刺激性和刺激以及神经化学化学）来研究脑回路的综合功能过程。在单个探针中适应同样兼容的单个探针中的所有这些多模式功能是至关重要的，但挑战研究问题。在本项目中将开发的新型灵活的fMRI兼容神经元探针与多模式功能相吻合，该探针将解决现有神经元探针系统的局限性，并有可能彻底改变许多用于基本脑研究和神经疾病治疗的应用。此外，通过整合研究和教育，该项目将将研究成果和未来劳动力参与者的活动联系起来，以满足现代工业对生物传感器，神经前瞻性制造和医学仪器的需求。该项目的目的是通过多模式传感和调制来研究灵活的神经元探测，以兼容多模态感应和调制，以兼容fmri兼容fmri和fmri兼容。将使用聚合物材料设计和制造一种灵活的多股神经探针，以在fMRI下提供深度的大脑感测和调节，从而可以对神经系统进行全面的理解和闭环控制。多模式功能，包括基于有机电解质门控晶体管（OEGT）的神经元电位记录，启用聚合物波导的光遗传学和基于光电二极管的光度法以及有机电化学晶体管（OECTS）的神经化学传感器，将被定制为探针。与传统的基于电极的神经探针相比，提出的探针适应了各种基于电气，光学和化学传感器的有机半导体（OSC）传感器，从而显着提高了当前神经化和调制技术的灵敏度和选择性。为了证明该平台治疗神经系统疾病的潜力，新型的多模式神经探针将在动物模型中在体内应用，以动态控制目标脑神经元电路的活动，同时使用邻近的渠道来评估NSF的合法传教士，同时监控其活动模式。 标准。