New generation of nanostructured sensors and electrodes to bypass CNS lesions

Since the dawn of neurobiology research, neural activity recording and stimulation have experienced a dramatic evolution. Such a process encouraged not only the conception of new technologies to improve our ability to study neurophysiology at the laboratory level, but also the formulation of new solutions to defeat neurological disorder. Among these, neuroprosthetics and neuroelectronic interfaces represent an intriguing panacea to resolve pathological states where conventional methods failed. This arduous challenge requires the collaboration of various subfields in neurobiology research to produce more efficient and highly physiological central nervous system interfacing. In this context, nanotechnologies seem to date eligible candidates to fulfill the needs for the design of next generation implantable neural prosthesis. Size-dependent chemical, topographical or electrical cues can be exploited to mimic biological environments and to faithfully reproduce physiological cells behavior. To safely improve our scientific knowledge about nanotechnologies applicability in biomedicine and more specifically in the context of neuroprosthetics design, a multidisciplinary approach is compulsory. The mutual support between neurobiology and nanoscience has resulted in a large amount of novel neurotechnologies, whose pertinence must be validated by conventional investigation methods in neurobiology to prove their safety and applicability. In particular, in vitro cells and tissue cultures and ex vivo preparations are interrogated by electrophysiology, live imaging, as well as various microscopy and nanoscopy methods, enabling neuroscientists to dissect cell physiology, mechanics and biophysics as a consequence of the interaction with the nanoworld. The purpose of my thesis is to explore the perspective of nanomaterials in the context of neuroprosthetics formulation.