An international research team, led by Francesca Santoro, has made a significant breakthrough in bioelectronics by developing a biochip that emulates the human retina. This development is a key step in the field of bioelectronics, which aims to remedy body and brain dysfunctions. The project involved collaboration among experts from Forschungszentrum Jülich, RWTH Aachen University, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, and the University of Naples, and their findings are detailed in Nature Communications.
The biochip is a fusion of conductive polymers and light-sensitive molecules, capable of replicating the retina’s visual pathways. Santoro, a professor at RWTH Aachen University and a visiting researcher at the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, explains that the organic semiconductor within the biochip reacts to light similarly to how photoreceptors in human eyes create visual images in the brain.
What sets this biochip apart is its composition of non-toxic organic components, flexibility, and ion-based operation, which allows for better integration with biological systems compared to conventional, rigid silicon semiconductors. This proof-of-concept demonstrates the chip’s ability to imitate retina properties. Beyond mimicking retinal functions, the researchers envision the chip as a potential artificial synapse, as light changes its conductivity, analogous to how real synapses transmit electrical signals and facilitate learning and memory in the brain.
The team, driven by the vision of bioelectronic chips that interact with the human nervous system, is exploring further applications. These include replicating the structure and functions of nerve cells and potentially intervening in cellular communication pathways to address neurodegenerative diseases or support malfunctioning organs. The biopolymers used in the artificial retina could also revolutionize computer technology, offering a more efficient way to mimic brain function in AI through artificial neurons.
Santoro’s team aims to further integrate these components with biological cells and create interconnected systems, pushing the boundaries of bioelectronics and bringing the concept of cyborgs closer to reality.
Original Paper: “Azobenzene-based optoelectronic transistors for neurohybrid building blocks” by Francesca Santoro and colleagues, published in Nature Communications on November 2, 2023. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41083-2
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