Nanoporous Gold for Neuroengineering Applications

Nanostructured materials have made a significant impact on the development of advanced functional materials. Nanoporous gold (np-Au), produced by a nano-scale self-assembly process, is a relatively new material and has mostly attracted attention for sensor and catalyst applications due to its high effective surface area, electrical conductivity, and ease of surface functionalization. Surprisingly, the biomedical potential of this material has remained largely untapped. We report on our research efforts to control nano-/micro-scale properties of np-Au and the application of micropatterning techniques for fabricating high-sensitivity multiple electrode arrays for neural electrophysiology studies. In the context of biocompatibility of such devices, we will discuss how tunable properties of np-Au may be utilized to alleviate adverse biological response to sensor coatings. We will specifically focus on drug delivery from np-Au coatings for in situ modulation of neuronal cell behavior. We expect these results to benefit the development of multi-functional devices for neuroengineering applications.