A self-wrapping, bioresorbable neural interface for wireless multimodal therapy of localized peripheral nerve injury

P Pengchuan Liu (Institute of Optoelectronics and College of Future Information Technology, College of Intelligent Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing, Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Base of Intelligent Optoelectronics and Perception, Fudan University) L Lianjie Zhou (Institute of Optoelectronics and College of Future Information Technology, College of Intelligent Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing, Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Base of Intelligent Optoelectronics and Perception, Fudan University) D Dian Xu (School of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Structural Analysis, Optimization and Computer Aided Engineering Software for Industrial Equipment, and International Research Center for Computational Mechanics, Dalian University of Technology) D Dongqi An (School of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Structural Analysis, Optimization and Computer Aided Engineering Software for Industrial Equipment, and International Research Center for Computational Mechanics, Dalian University of Technology) Y Yifei Lu B Bofan Hu (Institute of Optoelectronics and College of Future Information Technology, College of Intelligent Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing, Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Base of Intelligent Optoelectronics and Perception, Fudan University) Y Yuting Shao (Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University) N Ningge Huang (Institute of Optoelectronics and College of Future Information Technology, College of Intelligent Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing, Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Base of Intelligent Optoelectronics and Perception, Fudan University) C Chengjie Guo (School of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Structural Analysis, Optimization and Computer Aided Engineering Software for Industrial Equipment, and International Research Center for Computational Mechanics, Dalian University of Technology) L Li Chen J Jinbao Li (Department of Geography, University of Hong Kong) J Jiahao Li F Fuying Liang (Institute of Optoelectronics and College of Future Information Technology, College of Intelligent Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing, Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Base of Intelligent Optoelectronics and Perception, Fudan University) J Junhan Liu (Institute of Optoelectronics and College of Future Information Technology, College of Intelligent Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing, Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Base of Intelligent Optoelectronics and Perception, Fudan University) G Gaoshan Huang (International Institute of Intelligent Nanorobots and Nanosystems & State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, College of Intelligent Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing, Fudan University) Y Yongfeng Mei (International Institute of Intelligent Nanorobots and Nanosystems & State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, College of Intelligent Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing, Fudan University) R Rui Li E Enming Song (Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Base of Intelligent Optoelectronics and Perception, Institute of Optoelectronics)

Abstract

High-precision in vivo therapeutic technologies that establish three-dimensional (3D), multimodal neural interfaces with targeted biotissues offer significant clinical potential for the timely treatments of localized peripheral nerve injury (PNI). Current approaches for this purpose such as implantable devices face challenges in terms of percutaneous wires and/or nondegradable designs, and support only single-mode operation that lack microscale spatial resolution. Here, we develop a miniaturized, self-wrapping system that yields wireless, multimodal neural interfaces with 3D adaptation across localized peripheral nerves at scales ranging from tens of micrometers (15 μm) to millimeters. Such platform integrates multilayer architectures that include SiN x layers as the mechanically triggered substrate for 3D wrapping, with multimodal treatments via MXene and drug-loaded layers for photothermal stimulation and pharmacological release. Experimental and computational studies establish operational principle as the basis for the combination of long-term photothermal therapy and transient drug delivery at high spatiotemporal resolution. In vivo tests on living rat models demonstrate that the implantable neural interface can roll up across the localized, dynamic surface of injured nerves, providing sustained treatments over 1 mo in a fully bioresorbable design after the healing process. These findings create future opportunities of such wireless, multimodal system with 3D self-wrapping techniques for precise PNI therapeutic strategies.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 123, Issue 2
Published January 13, 2026
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (18)

P

Pengchuan Liu

Institute of Optoelectronics and College of Future Information Technology, College of Intelligent Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing, Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Base of Intelligent Optoelectronics and Perception, Fudan University

L

Lianjie Zhou

Institute of Optoelectronics and College of Future Information Technology, College of Intelligent Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing, Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Base of Intelligent Optoelectronics and Perception, Fudan University

D

Dian Xu

School of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Structural Analysis, Optimization and Computer Aided Engineering Software for Industrial Equipment, and International Research Center for Computational Mechanics, Dalian University of Technology

D

Dongqi An

School of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Structural Analysis, Optimization and Computer Aided Engineering Software for Industrial Equipment, and International Research Center for Computational Mechanics, Dalian University of Technology

Y

Yifei Lu

B

Bofan Hu

Institute of Optoelectronics and College of Future Information Technology, College of Intelligent Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing, Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Base of Intelligent Optoelectronics and Perception, Fudan University

Y

Yuting Shao

Department of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University

N

Ningge Huang

Institute of Optoelectronics and College of Future Information Technology, College of Intelligent Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing, Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Base of Intelligent Optoelectronics and Perception, Fudan University

C

Chengjie Guo

School of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Structural Analysis, Optimization and Computer Aided Engineering Software for Industrial Equipment, and International Research Center for Computational Mechanics, Dalian University of Technology

L

Li Chen

J

Jinbao Li

Department of Geography, University of Hong Kong

J

Jiahao Li

F

Fuying Liang

Institute of Optoelectronics and College of Future Information Technology, College of Intelligent Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing, Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Base of Intelligent Optoelectronics and Perception, Fudan University

J

Junhan Liu

Institute of Optoelectronics and College of Future Information Technology, College of Intelligent Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing, Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Base of Intelligent Optoelectronics and Perception, Fudan University

G

Gaoshan Huang

International Institute of Intelligent Nanorobots and Nanosystems & State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, College of Intelligent Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing, Fudan University

Y

Yongfeng Mei

International Institute of Intelligent Nanorobots and Nanosystems & State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, College of Intelligent Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing, Fudan University

R

Rui Li

E

Enming Song

Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Base of Intelligent Optoelectronics and Perception, Institute of Optoelectronics