Smart Nano-Architectures for Neuroscience and Neuroengineering: From Properties to Applications

Multi-function nanoarchitectures are specifically designed to provide atomically precise structures with intrinsic tunable properties either by modifying their lateral size and edge termination or heteroatom-doping via various design concepts and surface reactions. The intertwining of nanoarchitecture and neuroscience fields brings many possibilities to improve existing treatment for neurological diseases via a deeper understanding of the direct interactions, counting of recording or stimulating of the neuron circuitry/signals with those functional nanoengineered materials (0-D, 1-D, 2-D and 3-D). Most of the assimilation of interface nanoarchitectures used in the clinical translation of neuroscience ultimately implicate the central nervous system disease. Correct manipulation, exploitation, and control of the smart nanoengineered materials with appropriate physico-chemical properties permitted the advancement in diagnosis, monitoring, prevention, and treatment of pathological condition functions as well as sometimes the dysfunction.

One issue worth noting is the neurotoxicity of the nanoarchitecture materials that could generate permanent alterations across the blood barrier interface which then lead to fatal consequences. Neuroprotection using smart-designed nanoarchitectures are able to slow down neuronal loss. Taken together, these to a certain degree would also cause neurological injury associated with adverse side effects. Hence, the toxicological profile of those smart nanoarchitecture materials or the pre-existing pathological activity requires attention in order to ascertain the level of neurotoxicity.

In this Research Topic, we would like to highlight the recent advancement representing the cell-smart nanoarchitecture interactions within the context of disease-modifying therapeutic solutions. Also, we would like to spotlight the state-of-the-art in terms of new nanoarchitectures functionalization with particular emphasis on modern neuroscience and neuroengineering applications.

We welcome Original Research, Reviews, Mini Reviews, Systematic Reviews, Methods, and Perspectives articles.

Keywords: Nano-Architectures, Neuroscience, Nanotechnology, Nanomedicine, Smart-Nanostructures, Neuroengineering

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