Micro/nano-scale materials and structures for constructing neuronal networks and addressing neurons

In recent years, a number of new materials and techniques at the micro/nano-scale for neuroscience have been reported, in particular in studies of neuronal development and electronic addressing. They offer new capabilities to fabricate tools in controlling the surface properties (such as topography and chemistry) as well as executing electrical stimulations and measurements. Here we review the basic principles of these micro/nano-scale materials and highlight the important advances in this field, and finally provide some perspectives for the future.