Flexible and smart electronics for single-cell resolved brain–machine interfaces.

This article reviews recent advances in brain–machine interfaces (BMIs), focusing on the development of flexible and smart implantable electronics designed to achieve long-term, stable, and high-resolution neural recording and modulation. It highlights the limitations of traditional rigid intracortical probes, such as mechanical mismatch with brain tissue causing immune responses and signal degradation, and discusses three main strategies for flexible electronics fabrication—thin-layer devices, intrinsically stretchable materials, and tissue-like mesh architectures—that reduce these issues. The integration of multifunctional components enables cell-type-specific stimulation and closed-loop operation, while on-chip processing and wireless transmission address challenges related to data volume and real-time analysis. The review concludes by identifying scalability and neuromorphic computing as key future directions to enhance channel density, power efficiency, and intelligent data processing in BMIs.