NanoNeural

Nanoneural refers to nanoscale technologies and materials designed to interface with neural tissue, enabling sensing, stimulation, or modulation of neural activity at the level of single neurons or small populations. The label is used in research contexts to describe devices, probes, and materials employed in neuroscience and neuroengineering.

Common approaches include nanoelectrode arrays and nanowire-based sensors, graphene- and carbon nanotube-based electrodes, and nanoparticle or nanostructured coatings to improve biocompatibility and signal quality. In addition, nanoscale optoelectronic components and nanophotonic devices are explored for targeted neural stimulation or imaging.

Potential applications span basic neuroscience research, high-resolution brain–computer interfaces, neural prosthetics that require less tissue disruption, and targeted delivery of therapeutics to neural tissue. Some studies aim to achieve high spatial resolution recording with minimal immune response, or to combine sensing with controlled stimulation in closed-loop systems.

As a field, nanoneural research is largely preclinical, with many demonstrations in vitro or in animal models. Challenges include chronic biocompatibility, stability of nanoscale devices in the neural environment, mechanical mismatch, scalable manufacturing, data management, and regulatory and ethical considerations for clinical use.

The term nanoneural is not universally standardized; it is used variably in literature to denote nanoscale neural interfaces or nanotechnologies applied to neural systems.