RESEARCH PROGRAMMES
P3: Nanomedicine against cancer and infection
P6: Technology translational platform
RESEARCH SUPERVISOR(S)
Dr. M. Teresa González
Research Group website: http://www.byaxon-project.eu/consortium/imdea-nanociencia
Prof. Isabel Rodríguez
Research Group website: https://nanociencia.imdea.org/nanostructured-functional-surfaces-program/group-home
RESEARCH TOPIC DESCRIPTION
Neural interfaces are bioelectronic devices capable of stimulating the neural tissue and at the same time recording the electrical signals produced thereupon. Despite the success in neuro stimulation therapies to improve neural disabilities, their long-term implantation is still limited by poor biointegration and risk of a chronic inflammatory response due to the mechanical mismatch between the device and the neural tissue leading to fibrotic tissue formation and eventually loss of contact between the electrode and target tissue.
Despite the existing advances in neural electrode engineering in recent years, many obstacles still remain to create low-impedance interfaces that can efficiently and reliably inject charges or read signals from a living tissue in addition to minimizing the biological immune response issues and tissue damage.
In this project, implantable neural multi-electrode array (MEA) interfaces with nanostructured (NS) surfaces will be developed to provide improved tissue interfacing and at the same time, promote regenerative behaviours at the implantation site.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
A typical background would include experience and knowledge on biophysics and bioelectronics. Previous experience in extracellular stimulation and recording from cultured neuronal cells using multi-electrode arrays will be very valuable.
It is expected that the successful candidate will be independent, creative, curiosity-driven and motivated to explore solutions to difficult scientific problems, in addition to strong work ethics. A good knowledge of English is required.
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
The neural interfaces laboratory (NIL) has an active collaboration with several research teams, partially stablished through a previous FET-OPEN project (ByAxon -EIC, 737116). In particular, collaborators which could host the candidate during a secondment are: Laura Ballerini, SSISA (Italy), for the biocompatibility and performance characterization of the interfaces in vitro; Yael Hanein, TAU (Israel), expert in the development of non-invasive neural interfaces; Eduardo Martín, CISC (Spain) and Miguel Valencia, FIMA (Spain), for the characterization of the interfaces in vivo; Pablo Pérez, NOKIA (SPAIN), for the processing and characterization of neural activity data recordings, as well as the exploitation of telecommunication applications for future telemedicine.
Photo from: A. Domínguez-Bajo et al. Biomaterials. 2021, 279, 121186.