A Radial Modulus‐Gradient Fiber for Chronic Recording and Decoding in Deep Brain

L Liyuan Wang C Chengqiang Tang Z Zhengqi Han (School of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disorders Fudan University Shanghai China) H Haixin Zhong (Research Institute of Intelligent Complex Systems, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science Institutes of Brain Science, Institute of Science and Technology for Brain‑Inspired Intelligence Artificial Intelligence Laboratory Fudan University Shanghai China) K Kailin Zhang (Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, BPR 1096, Mattenstrasse 24a, Basel 4058, Switzerland) Z Ziyi Xie (Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science, Key Laboratory of Organic Solids, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China) H Hang Guan (State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers Department of Macromolecular Science Institute of Fiber Materials and Devices, and Laboratory of Advanced Materials Fudan University Shanghai China) P Peng Zhai (The Institute of AI and Robotics Fudan University Shanghai China) H Hongjian Li J Jiaheng Liang (School of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disorders Fudan University Shanghai China) J Jiajia Wang J Jiawei Chen (State Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials for Intelligent Sensing and Key Laboratory of Organic Integrated Circuits, Ministry of Education & Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Optoelectronic Sciences, Institute of Molecular Plus, Department of Chemistry) Y Yiqing Yang Z Ziwei Liu M Mingyi Huang (Research Institute of Intelligent Complex Systems, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science Institutes of Brain Science, Institute of Science and Technology for Brain‑Inspired Intelligence Artificial Intelligence Laboratory Fudan University Shanghai China) S Sihui Yu Q Qingquan Han X Xiangran Cheng (State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers Department of Macromolecular Science Institute of Fiber Materials and Devices, and Laboratory of Advanced Materials Fudan University Shanghai China) J Jinyan Li J Jiahao Shen X Xiaofei Wang (College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China) C Cheng Cao B Biqin Dong L Lihua Zhang (Center for Functional Nanomaterials) Q Qi Tong (National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Avian Influenza and Other Major Poultry Diseases of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University) C Chen Zhao Y Ya Huang B Bingjie Wang S Songlin Zhang P Peining Chen J Jue Deng Y Yuguo Yu (Research Institute of Intelligent Complex Systems, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science Institutes of Brain Science, Institute of Science and Technology for Brain‑Inspired Intelligence Artificial Intelligence Laboratory Fudan University Shanghai China) H Hongbo Yu (Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara) H Huisheng Peng X Xuemei Sun

Abstract

ABSTRACT Fiber electronics provide the most promising platform for the detection, modulation, and reconstruction of biosignals in the brain. However, preserving stable communication between fiber electronics and cellular‐scale targets in the deep brain is critical but challenging because of their mechanical mismatch. Here, our study fills this gap by developing a radial modulus‐gradient fiber (RMGF), which can bridge high‐modulus conductive components (MPa) and low‐modulus brain tissue (kPa) to well eliminate the mechanical mismatch at the entire neural‒device interface. The RMGF exhibits strain‐insensitive electrical properties (<0.2% resistance fluctuation over 700,000 stretching‒release cycles). As an example, the RMGF enables unprecedented five‐month continuous tracking of single neurons in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of freely moving cats, and allows reconstruction of visual stimuli with the use of only three neurons, with a high correlation coefficient of 0.95, approaching the theoretical limit of the unscented Kalman filter (0.97). The results indicate that dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus neurons maintain stable tuning properties (spatial frequency sensitivity, ON/OFF characteristics, and X‐cell classification) and reveal a minimal effective ensemble for efficient encoding of information within deep thalamic circuits. This RMGF represents a platform for chronic recording at the single‐cell level and investigating fundamental mechanisms in the deep tissues.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 38, Issue 30
Published May 01, 2026
ISSN 0935-9648
Publisher Unknown Publisher

Journal Info

Advanced Materials

Unknown Publisher

ISSN: 0935-9648 Physical Sciences

Authors (35)

L

Liyuan Wang

C

Chengqiang Tang

Z

Zhengqi Han

School of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disorders Fudan University Shanghai China

H

Haixin Zhong

Research Institute of Intelligent Complex Systems, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science Institutes of Brain Science, Institute of Science and Technology for Brain‑Inspired Intelligence Artificial Intelligence Laboratory Fudan University Shanghai China

K

Kailin Zhang

Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, BPR 1096, Mattenstrasse 24a, Basel 4058, Switzerland

Z

Ziyi Xie

Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science, Key Laboratory of Organic Solids, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China

H

Hang Guan

State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers Department of Macromolecular Science Institute of Fiber Materials and Devices, and Laboratory of Advanced Materials Fudan University Shanghai China

P

Peng Zhai

The Institute of AI and Robotics Fudan University Shanghai China

H

Hongjian Li

J

Jiaheng Liang

School of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disorders Fudan University Shanghai China

J

Jiajia Wang

J

Jiawei Chen

State Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials for Intelligent Sensing and Key Laboratory of Organic Integrated Circuits, Ministry of Education & Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Optoelectronic Sciences, Institute of Molecular Plus, Department of Chemistry

Y

Yiqing Yang

Z

Ziwei Liu

M

Mingyi Huang

Research Institute of Intelligent Complex Systems, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science Institutes of Brain Science, Institute of Science and Technology for Brain‑Inspired Intelligence Artificial Intelligence Laboratory Fudan University Shanghai China

S

Sihui Yu

Q

Qingquan Han

X

Xiangran Cheng

State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers Department of Macromolecular Science Institute of Fiber Materials and Devices, and Laboratory of Advanced Materials Fudan University Shanghai China

J

Jinyan Li

J

Jiahao Shen

X

Xiaofei Wang

College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China

C

Cheng Cao

B

Biqin Dong

L

Lihua Zhang

Center for Functional Nanomaterials

Q

Qi Tong

National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Avian Influenza and Other Major Poultry Diseases of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University

C

Chen Zhao

Y

Ya Huang

B

Bingjie Wang

S

Songlin Zhang

P

Peining Chen

J

Jue Deng

Y

Yuguo Yu

Research Institute of Intelligent Complex Systems, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science Institutes of Brain Science, Institute of Science and Technology for Brain‑Inspired Intelligence Artificial Intelligence Laboratory Fudan University Shanghai China

H

Hongbo Yu

Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara

H

Huisheng Peng

X

Xuemei Sun