Materials Advances in Neurotechnology

The dichotomy between materials and the mind has inspired scientists to explore the wonders of the brain with novel materials-enabled neurotechnologies. The development of neurotechnologies can be dated back to the late 18th century when Galvani used an iron-and-bronze arch to stimulate the sciatic nerve and evoke motor output in a dead frog. Modern neurotechnologies capitalize on the semiconductor industry's trend towards miniaturization, reading the activity of thousands of neurons simultaneously in the brains of mice, rats, monkeys, and even humans. All these capabilities would not be possible without the advances in materials science. This course introduces the basic principles of materials design and fabrication for probing the inner workings of the brain, discusses the fundamental challenges of state-of-the-art neurotechnologies, and explores the latest breakthroughs in materials-assisted neuroengineering. The course will cover the following topics: overview of the nervous system from an engineering perspective; mechanical and biochemical requirements of neural interfacing materials; materials for electrical, magnetic, optical, biochemical, thermal, and acoustic neural interfaces; materials as contrast agents for neuroimaging; and ethical considerations for emerging neurotechnologies. Students will acquire literacy in both materials science and neuroengineering and gain the knowledge and skills to understand and address pressing neuroscience challenges with materials advances. Prerequisite: undergraduate physics and chemistry; MATSCI 152, 158, 164, 190 or equivalents are recommended but not required prior to taking this course.