Most neural prosthetic devices are based on electrical stimulation, although the modulation of neuronal activity by a localized chemical delivery would better mimic physiological synaptic machinery. In the past decade, various drug delivery approaches attempted to emulate synaptic transmission, although they were hampered by poor retention of their cargo while reaching the target destination, low spatial resolution, and poor biocompatibility and stability of the materials involved. Here, we propose a planar solid-state device for multisite neurotransmitter translocation at the nanoscale consisting of a nanopatterned ceramic membrane connected to a reservoir designed to store neurotransmitters. We achieved diffusion-mediated glutamate stimulation of primary neurons, while we showed the feasibility to translocate other molecules through the pores by either pressure or diffusion, proving the versatility of the proposed technology. Finally, the system proved to be a promising neuronal stimulation interface in mice and nonhuman primates ex vivo, paving the way toward a biomimetic chemical stimulation in neural prosthetics and brain machine interfaces.

中文翻译：

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用于空间分辨化学神经调控的固态纳米孔


大多数神经假体装置都是基于电刺激的，尽管通过局部化学递送来调节神经元活动会更好地模拟生理突触机制。在过去的十年中，各种药物递送方法试图模拟突触传递，尽管它们在到达目标目的地时受到货物保留不良、空间分辨率低以及所涉及材料的生物相容性和稳定性差的阻碍。在这里，我们提出了一种平面固态器件，用于纳米级的多位点神经递质易位，该器件由连接到旨在储存神经递质的储液器的纳米图案陶瓷膜组成。我们实现了原代神经元的扩散介导的谷氨酸刺激，同时我们展示了通过压力或扩散通过孔转移其他分子的可行性，证明了所提出的技术的多功能性。最后，该系统被证明是小鼠和非人灵长类动物体外的一种有前途的神经元刺激接口，为神经假体和脑机接口中的仿生化学刺激铺平了道路。