Minimally Invasive & Long‐lasting Neural Probes from a Materials Perspective

Neurological disorders in aging society have created the need to understand how the brain works. At present, there are limited engineered “non‐invasive” tools to study and characterize the brain activity. Advancement in neuroscience research is highly focused on the fabrication of implantable neural probes that can effectively integrate with the neural tissue. Challenges associated with the commercially available probes has driven the development of mechanically compliant and non‐invasive neural implants. Engineering the mechanical and electrical performance of these probes is necessary to obtain tremendous sensitivity and selectivity along with chronic functionality. Selection of proper materials and understanding their fundamentals plays an essential role in achieving the desired neural interface. In this review, we have highlighted the recent progress in the utilization of new materials to attain a neural probe with improved flexibility, biocompatibility and signal quality.