Biocompatibility of Advanced Materials for Brain Machine Interfaces (BAMBI)
Funding Agency: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Dates 2011-2014
Faculty: Joseph J Pancrazio (PI) and Nathalia Peixoto (co-PI)
The overall goal of this project is to establish and demonstrate a systematic process for testing novel materials for use in a new generation of reliable brain machine interfaces (BMIs). Biomaterial testing involves three fundamental phases: 1) in vitro testing of the material with cell lines; 2) material robustness and durability; and 3) in vivo testing. This project will fill a critical gap in our ability to take full advantage of emerging materials by supplying this testing capability to the material science community and working cooperatively to bring new materials forward. Our approach is novel since it will enable a translational bridge for exciting developments in material science to be rapidly considered for neural interface applications. Our group provides multidisciplinary access to expertise in electrochemistry, material science, in vitro cellular assays, and immunohistochemistry to conduct consistent, rapid, and systematic assessments of novel materials.
Project protocols
This work was sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) MTO under the auspices of Dr Jack Judy through the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, Pacific Grant/Contract No. N66001-12-1-4026 – Biocompatibility of Advanced Materials for Brain Machine Interfaces.