Nanotechnologies in Neuroscience: Advances in Diagnostic Applications, Therapeutic Applications, and Neuro-engineering

Dear Colleagues,

Nanotechnology is a fast-developing field that provides simple and efficient tools for study of the brain in health and disease. Of particular importance are biosensors, multi-electrode arrays, memory resistive devices, and brain machine interfaces.

Thanks to advanced nanostructures, novel implantable bioelectronics interfaces that are well suited to their biological targets have been introduced in medical applications to enhance the potential and capacity of prostheses and neural interfaces. The unique physical and chemical properties of nanoparticles have also facilitated the development of novel imaging instruments for advanced laboratory systems, as well as intelligently manufactured scaffolds, microelectrodes, and other technologies designed to increase our understanding of neural tissue processes. The incorporation of nanotechnology into physiology and cell biology enables the tailoring of unique molecular interactions in neuroscience, such as those that occur in neurons and glial cells. This article will present nanotechnology solutions for effective interactions with neuronal cells, improved molecular-based diagnostic techniques, biomaterials and hybridized compounds for neural regeneration, neuroprotection, as well as the targeted delivery of medicines and small chemicals across the blood–brain barrier.

Neuro-engineering in combination with nanotechnology is paving the way for major advances in the diagnosis and therapy of neurological disorders. 

Over recent years, significant advances have been made in the application of nanotechnology in both basic neuroscience and in clinical practice. Novel nanotechnologies have enabled important insights into brain mechanisms, diagnosis, and therapy of CNS disorders. The aim of this special issue is to review emerging technologies in targeted therapies such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. By integrating with progress in nanotechnologies, advances in anatomical and functional imaging modalities provide tremendous opportunities for physicians, engineers and researchers to improve precision, personalized and targeted therapy, as well as diagnostic methods. In addition to therapy, nanotechnologies have significantly improved the diagnosis of various disorders.

Recently, imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in combination with nanotechnologies and nano-scale engineering techniques have significantly contributed to advances in neuro-oncology.

We will discuss recent advances and future perspectives in neuro-oncology with a focus on the use of nanotechnologies, advanced imaging modalities, and quantitative strategies for the early detection and effective treatment of brain disorders.

For this special issue, researchers are invited to contribute their original work relating to nanotechnologies and nanoparticle neuro-oncology-based strategies for the diagnosis and therapy of brain disorders.

We welcome original research and review articles on the following topics:

blood-brain-barrier, the nano-electrical and chemical stimulation, nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles and magnetic tunneling junctions, therapeutic approaches, genetic nanotechnology neuroprotective therapies, novel nanofluidic mechanisms such as hydrophobic gating, neuro-engineering, biosensors, multielectrode arrays (MEA), intracortical microelectrodes (IME), resistive memory devices, neurons and networks, and nano-brain machine interfaces (nBMI).

Ali Yadollahpour
Guest Editor

Manuscripts should be submitted via our online editorial system at https://imr.propub.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to start your submission. Manuscripts can be submitted now or up until the deadline. All papers will go through peer-review process. Accepted papers will be published in the journal (as soon as accepted) and meanwhile listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, reviews as well as short communications are preferred. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office to announce on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts will be thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. Please visit the Instruction for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) in this open access journal is 2200 USD. Submitted manuscripts should be well formatted in good English.