Parallel transmission in a synthetic nerve
Bioelectronic devices that are tetherless and soft are promising developments in medicine, robotics and chemical computing. Here, we describe bioinspired synthetic neurons, composed entirely of soft, flexible biomaterials, capable of rapid electrochemical signal transmission over centimetre distance...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Springer Nature
2022
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| _version_ | 1797107905077444608 |
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| author | Hoskin, CEG Schild, VR Vinals, J Bayley, H |
| author_facet | Hoskin, CEG Schild, VR Vinals, J Bayley, H |
| author_sort | Hoskin, CEG |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | Bioelectronic devices that are tetherless and soft are promising developments in medicine, robotics and chemical computing. Here, we describe bioinspired synthetic neurons, composed entirely of soft, flexible biomaterials, capable of rapid electrochemical signal transmission over centimetre distances. Like natural cells, our synthetic neurons release neurotransmitters from their terminals, which initiate downstream reactions. The components of the neurons are nanolitre aqueous droplets and hydrogel fibres, connected through lipid bilayers. Transmission is powered at these interfaces by light-driven proton pumps and mediated by ion-conducting protein pores. By bundling multiple neurons into a synthetic nerve, we have shown that distinct signals can propagate simultaneously along parallel axons, thereby transmitting spatiotemporal information. Synthetic nerves might play roles in next-generation implants, soft machines and computing devices.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T07:20:45Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:069ae64e-c3c0-42d8-9bac-b7f11134cdd5 |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T07:20:45Z |
| publishDate | 2022 |
| publisher | Springer Nature |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:069ae64e-c3c0-42d8-9bac-b7f11134cdd52022-10-21T08:12:05ZParallel transmission in a synthetic nerveJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:069ae64e-c3c0-42d8-9bac-b7f11134cdd5EnglishSymplectic ElementsSpringer Nature2022Hoskin, CEGSchild, VRVinals, JBayley, HBioelectronic devices that are tetherless and soft are promising developments in medicine, robotics and chemical computing. Here, we describe bioinspired synthetic neurons, composed entirely of soft, flexible biomaterials, capable of rapid electrochemical signal transmission over centimetre distances. Like natural cells, our synthetic neurons release neurotransmitters from their terminals, which initiate downstream reactions. The components of the neurons are nanolitre aqueous droplets and hydrogel fibres, connected through lipid bilayers. Transmission is powered at these interfaces by light-driven proton pumps and mediated by ion-conducting protein pores. By bundling multiple neurons into a synthetic nerve, we have shown that distinct signals can propagate simultaneously along parallel axons, thereby transmitting spatiotemporal information. Synthetic nerves might play roles in next-generation implants, soft machines and computing devices. |
| spellingShingle | Hoskin, CEG Schild, VR Vinals, J Bayley, H Parallel transmission in a synthetic nerve |
| title | Parallel transmission in a synthetic nerve |
| title_full | Parallel transmission in a synthetic nerve |
| title_fullStr | Parallel transmission in a synthetic nerve |
| title_full_unstemmed | Parallel transmission in a synthetic nerve |
| title_short | Parallel transmission in a synthetic nerve |
| title_sort | parallel transmission in a synthetic nerve |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hoskinceg paralleltransmissioninasyntheticnerve AT schildvr paralleltransmissioninasyntheticnerve AT vinalsj paralleltransmissioninasyntheticnerve AT bayleyh paralleltransmissioninasyntheticnerve |