Bio-inspired electronics: Soft, biohybrid, and “living” neural interfaces

Abstract Neural interface technologies are increasingly evolving towards bio-inspired approaches to enhance integration and long-term functionality. Recent strategies merge soft materials with tissue engineering to realize biologically-active and/or cell-containing living layers at the tissue-device...

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Main Authors: Dimitris Boufidis, Raghav Garg, Eugenia Angelopoulos, D. Kacy Cullen, Flavia Vitale
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-02-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57016-0
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author Dimitris Boufidis
Raghav Garg
Eugenia Angelopoulos
D. Kacy Cullen
Flavia Vitale
author_facet Dimitris Boufidis
Raghav Garg
Eugenia Angelopoulos
D. Kacy Cullen
Flavia Vitale
author_sort Dimitris Boufidis
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Neural interface technologies are increasingly evolving towards bio-inspired approaches to enhance integration and long-term functionality. Recent strategies merge soft materials with tissue engineering to realize biologically-active and/or cell-containing living layers at the tissue-device interface that enable seamless biointegration and novel cell-mediated therapeutic opportunities. This review maps the field of bio-inspired electronics and discusses key recent developments in tissue-like and regenerative bioelectronics, from soft biomaterials and surface-functionalized bioactive coatings to cell-containing ‘biohybrid’ and ‘all-living’ interfaces. We define and contextualize key terminology in this emerging field and highlight how biological and living components can bridge the gap to clinical translation.
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issn 2041-1723
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publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-2cab6eae8ec8439cb9ed1c5794ab12a22025-08-20T03:10:52ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-02-0116111710.1038/s41467-025-57016-0Bio-inspired electronics: Soft, biohybrid, and “living” neural interfacesDimitris Boufidis0Raghav Garg1Eugenia Angelopoulos2D. Kacy Cullen3Flavia Vitale4Department of Bioengineering, University of PennsylvaniaCenter for Neuroengineering and Therapeutics, University of PennsylvaniaCenter for Neuroengineering and Therapeutics, University of PennsylvaniaDepartment of Bioengineering, University of PennsylvaniaDepartment of Bioengineering, University of PennsylvaniaAbstract Neural interface technologies are increasingly evolving towards bio-inspired approaches to enhance integration and long-term functionality. Recent strategies merge soft materials with tissue engineering to realize biologically-active and/or cell-containing living layers at the tissue-device interface that enable seamless biointegration and novel cell-mediated therapeutic opportunities. This review maps the field of bio-inspired electronics and discusses key recent developments in tissue-like and regenerative bioelectronics, from soft biomaterials and surface-functionalized bioactive coatings to cell-containing ‘biohybrid’ and ‘all-living’ interfaces. We define and contextualize key terminology in this emerging field and highlight how biological and living components can bridge the gap to clinical translation.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57016-0
spellingShingle Dimitris Boufidis
Raghav Garg
Eugenia Angelopoulos
D. Kacy Cullen
Flavia Vitale
Bio-inspired electronics: Soft, biohybrid, and “living” neural interfaces
Nature Communications
title Bio-inspired electronics: Soft, biohybrid, and “living” neural interfaces
title_full Bio-inspired electronics: Soft, biohybrid, and “living” neural interfaces
title_fullStr Bio-inspired electronics: Soft, biohybrid, and “living” neural interfaces
title_full_unstemmed Bio-inspired electronics: Soft, biohybrid, and “living” neural interfaces
title_short Bio-inspired electronics: Soft, biohybrid, and “living” neural interfaces
title_sort bio inspired electronics soft biohybrid and living neural interfaces
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57016-0
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AT raghavgarg bioinspiredelectronicssoftbiohybridandlivingneuralinterfaces
AT eugeniaangelopoulos bioinspiredelectronicssoftbiohybridandlivingneuralinterfaces
AT dkacycullen bioinspiredelectronicssoftbiohybridandlivingneuralinterfaces
AT flaviavitale bioinspiredelectronicssoftbiohybridandlivingneuralinterfaces