Living bioelectronics: Bridging the interface between devices and tissues

Informazioni relative al progetto

Living Bionics

ID dell’accordo di sovvenzione: 771985

DOI

10.3030/771985

Progetto chiuso

Data della firma CE 22 Gennaio 2018

Data di avvio 1 Maggio 2018

Data di completamento 30 Giugno 2025

Finanziato da

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)

Costo totale

€ 1 996 745,00

Contributo UE

€ 1 996 745,00

Coordinato da

IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE
United Kingdom

Periodic Reporting for period 5 - Living Bionics (Living bioelectronics: Bridging the interface between devices and tissues)

Periodo di rendicontazione: 2024-07-01 al 2025-06-30

Sintesi del contesto e degli obiettivi generali del progetto

The Living Bionics project set out to address a key challenge in neuroscience and medicine: how to develop neural interfaces that can communicate more naturally and effectively with the brain. Existing technologies, such as brain implants and neural prosthetics, often rely on artificial materials that trigger immune responses, leading to tissue damage and loss of function over time.
To overcome this, Living Bionics proposed a new strategy, creating living neural interfaces composed of soft, tissue-like materials partly made from living cells. These “biohybrid” systems are designed to grow into the brain, connect with surrounding tissues, and support two-way communication between biological and electronic systems.
This approach enables new solutions across a range of neurological disorders including paralysis, epilepsy, sensory loss, and neurodegenerative diseases. By improving biocompatibility and functional integration, the project aimed to develop neural interfaces that are more stable, adaptive, and long-lasting.
This project combined expertise in bioengineering, neuroscience, biomaterials, and electronics to pursue three goals:
1. Design a custom biomaterial scaffold for neural engineering.
2. Engineer neural constructs that can self-organise and integrate with brain tissue.
3. Explore the use of these living systems as next-generation neural interfaces.

Lavoro eseguito dall’inizio del progetto fino alla fine del periodo coperto dalla relazione e principali risultati finora ottenuti

Living Bionics developed a new class of biologically integrated neural interfaces. Central to this was the creation of a biosynthetic hydrogel that mimics the physical and chemical properties of the brain. This material offers precise control over stiffness, degradation, and structure, supporting both neural cell growth and long-term stability.
Using this hydrogel system, neural progenitor cells were co-encapsulated with primary astrocytes to guide self-organisation into synaptically active tissue constructs. These 3D systems demonstrated robust neuronal development, neurite outgrowth, and spontaneous activity in vitro.
Multi-layered “living electrodes” were engineered by combining these neural constructs with a conductive hydrogel substrate to enable controlled electrical stimulation. A high-throughput version of this platform allowed for systematic studies on how electrical stimuli influence neural cell development.
To assess integration with native tissue, constructs were co-cultured with organotypic brain slices. Structural and synaptic continuity across the interface was confirmed using immunofluorescence staining, highlighting the potential for functional integration in vivo. Building on these findings, constructs were integrated into electrocorticography (ECoG) arrays developed with the PIE Foundry at USC. These biohybrid devices are now undergoing long-term testing in rodent models for safety and performance.
Alongside these technical milestones, the project published high-impact papers in Advanced Functional Materials, Journal of Materials Chemistry B, and Tissue Engineering Part A, with additional manuscripts in preparation. Findings were presented at major international conferences and in interdisciplinary forums, including the Hybrid Minds initiative linking neurotechnology with ethics and policy.
The platform laid the groundwork for two follow-on programmes funded by the ERC and ARIA, which are advancing biohybrid neural interfaces for translational applications in deep brain and peripheral nerve modulation.

Progressi oltre lo stato dell’arte e potenziale impatto previsto (incluso l’impatto socioeconomico e le implicazioni sociali più ampie del progetto fino ad ora)

Living Bionics significantly advanced the field of neural interfaces by developing biohybrid systems that support biological growth and integration, departing from traditional synthetic devices. This shift will enable more adaptive and stable interactions with the nervous system.
A central innovation was the use of glia-guided self-organisation to drive the differentiation and maturation of neural progenitors into functional neural networks. This developmental, bottom-up approach mirrors how brain circuits form in vivo and represents a new strategy in neural tissue engineering. The hydrogel system is also a notable advance in biomaterial science, by allowing precise tuning of mechanical and biochemical properties while maintaining cell viability and compatibility with electronics for developing implantable biohybrid systems.The project pioneered multi-layered living electrode constructs, combining biological and electronic components in a modular format. Supported by high-throughput stimulation and computational modelling, these tools enabled systematic investigation into how electrical cues shape tissue formation. Another key breakthrough was the demonstration of synaptic integration between engineered constructs and brain tissue ex vivo, providing early proof-of-concept for functional connectivity. The integration of these constructs into implantable ECoG arrays and their ongoing testing in animal models marks an important translational milestone.
Living Bionics advanced the field beyond the current state of the art by introducing a regenerative, biologically informed design paradigm for neural interfaces. The results offer a path toward future neurotechnologies that are not only mechanically and electrically compatible but also capable of integrating into the nervous system.

Living Electrode (foreground) and neural tissue construct (background)