The recent development of neural prosthetic technology has demonstrated a therapeutic potential for restoring lost sensory or motor functions via a brain-machine interface. Often the devices require direct contact between neural tissue and implanted electrodes to function properly by electrically stimulating or recording neurons on the scale of micro-volts. It is thus critical that the interface between the tissue and the electrode is biocompatible as well as stable for durations relevant to clinical applications. Of course, the formation of an abiotic/biotic interface is often riddled with interfering biological responses and this technological problem is intensified when interfacing with neural tissue. Failure to establish a stable interface severely limits the function of implanted neural devices. Mechanical mismatch of the implanted device, neuron migration away from the electrode, cell death resulting from implant insertion as well as chronic inflammation, and exclusion of recordable cells by an encapsulated glial sheath have all been implicated as potential sources for device failure. Understanding the direct mechanism behind neuronal loss near chronically implanted electrodes is essential for the development of treatment paradigms that can improve the abiotic/biotic interface.

  In this work we rely upon interdisciplinary techniques in chemistry, molecular biology, and physics to enable us to both move towards methods for the formation of a healthy brain-machine interface as well as new tools for the diagnostics of the tissue response. Through the creation of new biomaterials we have improved the neural interface, reduced local neurodegeneration around chronic implants, and demonstrated in vivo improvement of neural recording devices. In addition, using new strategies for the creation of conductive and magnetic nanomaterials we have developed new methods for electrochemically detecting tissue damage as well as treatment strategies using electrically and magnetically triggered drug release.

  By establishing a method for the formation of stable interfaces between neural tissue and electrode recording devices, the development of neural prosthetic devices can continue to progress towards clinical acceptance.