Project description
Innovative hybrid metal-dielectric metasurface neural endoscopes
Better insight into the brain’s neural circuits and electrochemical functions could lead to improved diagnostics and therapies. However, current neural interfaces are limited in their ability to interpret the complex electrical and chemical signalling that takes place in different parts of the brain tissue. The ERC-funded MINING project aims to develop and demonstrate advanced multifunctional neural endoscopes capable of stimulating and detecting electrical and molecular signalling with cellular resolution in living organisms. To do so, it will leverage light-matter interactions in hybrid metal-dielectric metasurfaces and their synergistic integration with organic electrochemical transistors. Consequently, the endoscopes will be able to identify multiple types of signals in the same volume with in-depth spatial and temporal resolution.
Objective
Capturing the dynamics of brain activity in its multifaceted components is a key challenge for neural interfaces. Deciphering the complex electrical and chemical signaling exchanged by the different constituents of the brain tissue will result in a better understanding of neural circuits and functions, informing and enabling novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Next generation of research tools should therefore aim at a multifunctional and fully integrated approach, probing and triggering multiple signals simultaneously with high spatio-temporal resolution and low invasiveness. MINING aspires at generating a novel class of multifunctional neural endoscopes, able to trigger and detect electrical and molecular signaling with cellular resolution in vivo. The result will be the unprecedented ability to correlate multiple types of signals in the same volume, with spatial and temporal resolution at depth. The limitation of current state of the art will be surmounted by exploiting light-matter interactions in hybrid metal-dielectric metasurfaces and their synergistic integration with organic electrochemical transistors. The main objectives of MINING are: 1) Devise hybrid metal-dielectric metasurface (HMS) neural endoscopes, enabling simultaneous (i) high-resolution functional imaging of neural signals, (ii) label-free optical monitoring of chemical compounds from both wide and localized brain volumes and (iii) optogenetic and thermoplasmonic modulation of neural functions with cellular resolution, 2) Integration of organic electrochemical transistors on HMSs endoscopes, generating a novel optoelectrical neural interface with cellular resolution based on active electronics, 3) Development of methods for spatial-resolved multifunctional studies, to demonstrate the power of MINING endoscopes to reveal so far hidden patterns of electrochemical functional dynamics in the living mouse brain.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2023-COG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
16163 Genova
Italy
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.