Nature Biomedical Engineering

This issue highlights technology for interfacing neurons and nerves, including a nanoelectrode array for recording from thousands of connected neurons, reconfigurable nanophotonic probes for sub-millisecond deep-brain optical stimulation, an intraneural electrode array for the selective activation of optic-nerve fibres, a photovoltaic subretinal prosthesis implanted in non-human primates, and a small and ultrasonically powered implantable neural stimulator. The issue also highlights a device for the mechano-acoustic sensing of body motions, CAR-T-cell-functionalized nitinol thin films for the treatment of solid tumours and implantable functionalized carbon nanotube bundles as electrochemical sensors of disease biomarkers.

The cover illustrates a wireless device, designed to be conformally placed on the suprasternal notch, that provides continuous information of essential vital signs as well as talking time, swallow counts and sleep patterns.