Carbon‐Nanofibers‐Based Micro‐/Nanodevices for Neural‐Electrical and Neural‐Chemical Interfaces

Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) have shown great potentials for development of micro‐/nanodevices for neural interfaces due to their suitable properties, such as chemical stability, good electrical conductivity, ultramicro size with low electrical impedance, 3D structures with high surface‐to‐volume ratio, and long‐term biocompatibility. In this paper, we review the applications of CNFs as neural‐electrical interfaces and neural‐chemical interfaces for neural recording and stimulation, electroconductive nanofibrous scaffolds for nerve tissue engineering, drug and gene delivery, and neurochemical sensing. The CNFs‐based micro‐/nanodevices provide new platforms to fine‐tune electrical and chemical cues of neurons at subcellular nanoscale, which can be used for both fundamental studies of material‐cell interactions and the development of chronically stable, implantable neural interface devices. Further development of this technology may potentially enable a highly multiplex closed‐loop system with multifunctions for neuromodulation and neuroprostheses.