Bioelectronics has been seriously developing in recent years, because it is difficult to overestimate its role in correcting dysfunctions of the human body and brain. And a new development by an international group of scientists testifies to this progress. Researchers have created innovative biochips that mimic the functioning of the human retina. This product was created thanks to the joint efforts of specialists from the Forschungszentrum Jülich, the RVTG of Aachen University, the Italian Institute of Technology and the University of Naples. The discovery was published in the authoritative scientific journal Nature Communications.
Journalists note that the development of such a biochip is one of the first steps towards the “reality of cyborgs,” the concept of which has long ceased to be just an element of science fiction. People have long been fitted with pacemakers to treat arrhythmias, cochlear implants to improve hearing, and retinal implants to help the visually impaired regain at least some of their vision.
The new biochip, developed by a group of scientists led by Francesca Santoro, is a complex of conducting polymers and light-sensitive molecules. These elements together mimic the functioning of the human retina, including the visual pathways. Experts emphasize that such products make it possible to foresee an even closer fusion of man and machine in the near future.
Francesca Santoro, professor of neuroelectronic interfaces at RVTG Aachen University and visiting researcher at the Italian Institute of Technology, spoke to reporters about the properties of the developed organic semiconductor. In particular, it is able to determine the amount of light falling on it, similar to the processes occurring in the human eye. The sensitivity to light of individual photoreceptors allows the formation of a corresponding image in the brain.
Scientists say that the key feature of the developed biochip is its 100% organic composition without any toxic components. In addition, the product is extremely flexible and operates on the basis of ions (charged atoms or molecules). This approach ensures natural integration of the biochip into any biological systems.
Unlike conventional, hard silicon semiconductors, which work with electrons, Francesca Santoro’s team’s organic semiconductor shows compatibility with the ionic processes found in human cells (cells use ions to control certain processes and exchange information).
The journal Nature Communications notes that the development is only an important “proof of concept” for now. However, scientists already see the potential for using the biochip in practice, for example, as an artificial synapse, because irradiation with light changes the conductivity of the polymer used (in the short and long term), which is similar to the functioning of real synapses that transmit electrical signals, thereby changing their size and efficiency. This underlies the brain’s ability to learn and remember. Francesca Santoro also notes that her group’s upcoming experiments will focus on connecting these components to biological systems, as well as connecting large numbers of individual chips together.
In addition to the artificial retina, the team led by Francesca Santoro is also developing other approaches to bioelectronic chips that can interact with the human body, for example, with cells of the nervous system. Scientists are striving not only to recreate the three-dimensional structure of human nerve cells, but also their functionality, especially in terms of processing and storing information.
Various types of biochips, as indicated in the Nature Communications publication, can be used to study real neurons, including for qualitative studies of cellular information exchange. In addition, Francesco Santoro’s group is confident that the developed components will be actively used to interfere with cell information transmission pathways in order to correct errors that occur in neurodegenerative diseases, for example, Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease. They can also serve to support the functioning of human organs, which for some reason cannot work as usual.
It is emphasized that the developed components have the potential to act as an interface between artificial limbs or joints. This opens up new horizons in the field of prosthetics and rehabilitation, making the restoration of lost body functions more effective and natural. In addition, the chip has unique properties that make it an optimal solution for use in artificial neural network equipment. This can significantly improve the performance of computer technology. Francesco Santoro emphasizes that biochips open the way to the creation of computer technologies capable of simulating the functioning of the brain at various levels.
