Exploring Present and Future Directions in Nano-Enhanced Optoelectronic Neuromodulation

Electrical neuromodulation has achieved significant translational advancements, including the development of deep brain stimulators for managing neural disorders and vagus nerve stimulators for seizure treatment. Optoelectronics, in contrast to wired electrical systems, offers the leadless feature that guides multisite and high spatiotemporal neural system targeting, ensuring high specificity and precision in translational therapies known as “photoelectroceuticals”. This Account provides a concise overview of developments in novel optoelectronic nanomaterials that are engineered through innovative molecular, chemical, and nanostructure designs to facilitate neural interfacing with high efficiency and minimally invasive implantation.

This Account outlines the progress made both within our laboratory and across the broader scientific community, with particular attention to implications in materials innovation strategies, studying bioelectrical activation with spatiotemporal methods, and applications in regenerative medicine. In materials innovation, we highlight a nongenetic, biocompatible, and minimally invasive approach for neuromodulation that spans various length scales, from single neurons to nerve tissues using nanosized particles and monolithic membranes. Furthermore, our discussion exposes the critical unresolved questions in the field, including mechanisms of interaction at the nanobio interface, the precision of cellular or tissue targeting, and integration into existing neural networks with high spatiotemporal modulation. In addition, we present the challenges and pressing needs for long-term stability and biocompatibility, scalability for clinical applications, and the development of noninvasive monitoring and control systems.

In addressing the existing challenges in the field of nanobio interfaces, particularly for neural applications, we envisage promising strategic directions that could significantly advance this burgeoning domain. This involves a deeper theoretical understanding of nanobiointerfaces, where simulations and experimental validations on how nanomaterials interact spatiotemporally with biological systems are crucial. The development of more durable materials is vital for prolonged applications in dynamic neural interfaces, and the ability to manipulate neural activity with high specificity and spatial resolution, paves the way for targeting individual neurons or specific neural circuits. Additionally, integrating these interfaces with advanced control systems, possibly leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms and programming dynamically responsive materials designs, could significantly ease the implementation of stimulation and recording. These innovations hold the potential to introduce novel treatment modalities for a wide range of neurological and systemic disorders.