Researchers at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have reportedly created an artificial neuron that apparently works just like our own living neurons do. It is made of organic bioelectronics and is able to convert chemical signals to electric potentials that travel along the device which are then used to release a neurotransmitter that acts on nearby cells. The big deal for clinical applications is that this technology may allow for chemical stimulation of neurological conditions triggered by naturally occurring biochemicals. Currently, electric neurostimulators rely on electrical signals coming from the body, or some even work blindly simply being constantly activated and delivering therapy consistently at all times.
The current device is still quite bulky and is incomparable in size to natural neurons, but the researchers plan to miniaturize it. Moreover, they envision wireless transmission to be built into the artificial neurons that will allow them to communicate across the body without having to be linked by physical wires.
From the study abstract in journal Biosensors and Bioelectronics:
The fundamental function of neurons, defined as chemical-to-electrical-to-chemical signal transduction, is achieved by connecting enzyme-based amperometric biosensors and organic electronic ion pumps. Selective biosensors transduce chemical signals into an electric current, which regulates electrophoretic delivery of chemical substances without necessitating liquid flow. Biosensors detected neurotransmitters in physiologically relevant ranges of 5–80 µM, showing linear response above 20 µm with approx. 0.1 nA/µM slope. When exceeding defined threshold concentrations, biosensor output signals, connected via custom hardware/software, activated local or distant neurotransmitter delivery from the organic electronic ion pump. Changes of 20 µM glutamate or acetylcholine triggered diffusive delivery of acetylcholine, which activated cells via receptor-mediated signalling. This was observed in real-time by single-cell ratiometric Ca2+ imaging. The results demonstrate the potential of the organic electronic biomimetic neuron in therapies involving long-range neuronal signalling by mimicking the function of projection neurons. Alternatively, conversion of glutamate-induced descending neuromuscular signals into acetylcholine-mediated muscular activation signals may be obtained, applicable for bridging injured sites and active prosthetics.
Study in Biosensors and Bioelectronics: An organic electronic biomimetic neuron enables auto-regulated neuromodulation…
Source: Karolinska Institutet…