Bioelectronic Medicine (BEM) is the emerging and innovative therapeutic field which aspires to revolutionize the way we fight diseases by using electrical impulses to perform diagnosis and treatment. It is a multidisciplinary area which leverages the accumulated knowledge of various scientific fields including microelectronics, information technology, materials science, and medicine, and promises to offer novel solutions to address unmet medical needs. By using implantable electrodes, BEM aims to, precisely, selectively, and adaptively, target neuronal circuits and biological processes to restore health in chronic conditions.
At the core of this endeavor stands the biotic/abiotic ensemble. For bioelectronic therapies to be safe and effective, neural interfaces that allow tissue stimulation and monitoring are of colossal importance. These interfaces need to display biocompatibility, biostability, and the ability to interrogate biology at the cellular level. At the same time, they need to be able to deliver stimulation paradigms that can selectively and safely produce therapeutic effects while not compromising their long-term reliability. The above requirements can only be satisfied by the synergy of various scientific fields which offer their advances in material science, microfabrication, stimulation and biosensing for a seamless integration of bioelectronic devices with living tissue.
The aim of this Collection is to present the latest trends in neural interfaces for therapeutic tissue stimulation and sensing with a focus on the upcoming era of bioelectronic medicine. Its scope includes, but is not limited to, novel electrode materials, fabrication approaches and form factors, novel stimulation and biosensing archetypes, and novel ways of delivering bioelectronic medicine therapies. Original research papers and review articles are welcome.
