Seongjun Park1
KAIST1
To understand the mechanism underlying the function and dynamics of the nervous system or to treat neurological disorders, it is essential to develop the techniques capable of modulating and recording a diversity of signals employed by neurons. However, current approaches are limited in terms of effectiveness, side effects, non-specificity, and mechanical invasiveness. Naturally, there is a huge need for new devices or materials allowing for minimally invasive manipulation and monitoring of neural activity. My talk will introduce the complementary strategy to address these challenges with hydroge-based flexible and stretchable fiber-based probes for interfacing with the brain and spinal cord. This technology enabling the interrogation with neural circuits across their diverse signaling modalities without inducing a foreign-body reaction helps the study of information processing as well as pathologies of the nervous system.<br/><br/>Reference<br/>[1] S. Park*, H. Yuk*, R. Zhao, Y. S. Yim, E. Woldeghebriel, J. Kang, A. Canales, Y. Fink, G. Choi, X. Zhao<sup>#</sup>, and P. Anikeeva<sup>#</sup>, “Adaptive and Multifunctional Hydrogel Hybrid Probes for Long-term Sensing and Modulation of Neural Activity”, <i>Nature Communications</i>, 12, 3435 (2021).<br/>[2] S. Park, Y. Guo, X. Jia, H. K. Choe, B. Grena, J. Kang, J. Park, C. Lu, A. Canales, R. Chen, Y. S. Yim, G. Choi, Y. Fink and P. Anikeeva<sup>#</sup>, “One-step Optogenetics with Multifunctional Flexible Polymer Fibers”, <i>Nature Neuroscience</i>, 20 (4), 612-619, 2017.<br/>[3] C. Lu*, S. Park*, T. J. Richner, A. Derry, I. Brown, C. Hou, S. Rao, J. Kang, C. T. Moritz, Y. Fink and P. Anikeeva<sup>#</sup>, “Flexible and stretchable nanowire-coated fibers for optoelectronic probing of spinal cord circuits”, <i>Science Advances</i>, 3 (3), e1600955, 2017.