Integrating living biomaterials into neuroelectronic systems

TL;DR

This paper explores how living biomaterials can be integrated into neuroelectronic systems to create adaptive brain-computer interfaces.

Contribution

The paper introduces a framework for biohybrid neural interfaces that combine living cells with electronics for improved brain compatibility.

Findings

Biohybrid interfaces can adapt to the brain's dynamic environment.

Living electrodes offer bidirectional communication and tissue conformity.

In vitro and in vivo systems are being combined for seamless integration.

Abstract

Neural interface technologies stand at the threshold of a revolution, offering new possibilities for seamless, high-bandwidth interconnection between the human brain and computers. Recent progress has been driven by advances in microscale manufacturing, yielding sophisticated neural probes with diverse form factors capable of recording from macroscopic networks down to single units. These platforms span rigid-to-soft architectures and combine inorganic and organic materials, improving compatibility with the brain’s mechanical and chemical properties. Despite these advances, the field still relies primarily on nonbiological electrodes, which face inherent limitations in adapting to the dynamic and complex nature of living neural tissue. Living biomaterials-integrated neuroelectronics, on the other hand, could open new possibilities by enabling technologies that adapt to the host environment, actively establish bidirectional interfaces, conform to living tissue, and support repair by leveraging the inherent regenerative and plastic capacities of living systems. This review provides an overview of recent progress, challenges, and emerging directions in the integration of living biomaterials with neuroelectronic systems. We frame biohybrid neural interfaces as the convergence of in vitro microelectrode arrays and in vivo brain interfaces and organize the review around three themes: (i) cell sources for device integration, (ii) advances in in vitro MEA platforms, and (iii) cell-integrated, living electrodes for in vivo neural interfacing. Considered jointly, the themes point to an integrated path to seamless, adaptive biohybrid neural interfaces.

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