신경공학연구실

We design a novel planar microelectrode array (MEA, 2D or 3D structure) system that can be used to grow live neurons and record neural signals from multiple neurons simultaneously. Electrical and optical stimulation and recording techniques are combined with the MEA platform to investigate neural circuits in vitro. 60 to 256 channel MEAs have been successfully designed with nanostructure microelectrode electrodes (e.g. conductive polymer PEDOT:PSS). Microfabrication processes or 3D printing techniques are used to design various types of MEAs for 2D or 3D neuronal networks. Brain-on-a-Chip technology grows live nerve cells (‘neurons’) in a dish (‘in vitro condition’) to create a live neural network model for understanding information processing mechanism in neural circuits, and for drug-screening and therapeutic treatments of brain disorders. We have been one of the major technological leading groups in this field. The ultimate question that leads our research is ‘Can we build a brain using live neurons?’. As a neural engineer, our goal is to understand and control in vitro neural interface and to develop an engineering platform for the design and analysis of the Brain-on-a-Chip. The main research sectors include 2D/3D neural culture techniques, microelectrode array interface, neuromodulation techniques, neural signal processing/analysis.