Implantable nanophotonic neural probes capable of both photostimulation and recording were demonstrated in vivo (1).
These probes support optogenetic and photonic readouts with high spatial precision (1).
The design is relevant to next-generation neural interfaces and optogenetic BCI applications (1). 1
Gardner updates
Implantable nanophotonic probes support both photostimulation and recording with high spatial precision and are relevant to next-generation neural interfaces and optogenetic BCI. 1
Deep research (2026-07-20)
Source note: the listed Science Advances DOI could not be independently verified during research; the bullets below draw on the directly-lineage probe paper (Mu, Chen, Sacher, Poon, Valiante et al., “Nanophotonic neural probes for in vivo photostimulation, electrophysiology, and microfluidic delivery,” Microsyst Nanoeng. 2026;12(1):100).23
Authors/institutions: Xin Mu, Fu-Der Chen, Wesley D. Sacher (corresponding), Joyce K.S. Poon, Taufik A. Valiante — Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics (Halle), University of Toronto, the Max Planck–University of Toronto Centre for Neural Science and Technology, Krembil Brain Institute/UHN, with foundry partner Advanced Micro Foundry (Singapore).3
The device integrates 16 silicon-nitride grating-coupler optical emitters, 18 titanium-nitride microelectrodes, and one embedded microfluidic channel monolithically on a single foundry-fabricated silicon probe shank.43
In vivo validation in optogenetic, blue-light-sensitive mice demonstrated simultaneous photostimulation, electrophysiological recording, and microfluidic drug delivery on the same shank.3
Functional demonstration: local photostimulation suppressed epileptic seizure activity that had been chemically induced via microfluidic injection of 4-aminopyridine — a closed-loop optogenetic seizure-control proof of concept.43
Fabrication is foundry-compatible (commercial Si-photonics foundry, wafer-scale), enabling scalable emitter/channel counts and manufacturing volume, distinguishing it from bespoke academic-lab microfabrication.5
Sample size and chronic recording duration were not reported in the retrieved abstract/summary — not reported.
Comparison point: earlier probes from the same lineage (Mu et al., arXiv 2023) used 3D-printed microfluidics bolted onto photonic probes rather than monolithic integration and lacked electrodes in some versions; this work advances toward full tri-modal (light + electrical + fluidic) integration on one chip.6
Clinical/BCI implication: monolithic multimodal probes point toward future optogenetic human BCI/neuromodulation devices capable of simultaneous stimulation, recording, and pharmacological intervention through a single minimally invasive shank, reducing tissue damage versus multiple separate devices.73
Versus Neuropixels (pure high-density electrophysiology, no optics) and micro-LED optrodes (optics + electrodes, rarely fluidics), this probe’s distinguishing feature is the integrated fluidic channel for localized delivery; whether its electrode density matches Neuropixels’ thousands of sites was not reported.
Related work
Chen FD, et al. “Implantable nanophotonic neural probes for integrated photostimulation and recording.” Nature portfolio, 2025.7
Mu X, Chen FD, Dang KM, et al. “Implantable Photonic Neural Probes with 3D-Printed Microfluidics and Applications to Uncaging.” arXiv, 2023.6
Lanzio V, et al. “Scalable nanophotonic neural probes for multicolor optogenetic stimulation.” 2021.8
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