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Content archived on 2024-05-29

Development of novel concepts for communication between living cells and silicon based electronic devices

Objective

Biomedical devices increasingly rely on the use of silicon based microelectronic structures. During the NEUMIC project (IST-1999-29091) we successfully analyzed the parameters and mechanisms that control the degree of coupling between neurons and electronic devices and made significant progress towards the formation of chemical synapses. GOLDEN BRAIN aims at developing and implementing novel generic technologies to form reliable and durable bi-directional electrical and chemical communication between neurons and electronic devices. We will harness the basic properties of cells to identify, preferentially adhere and internalize elements of the extra cellular world by phagocytes, leading to the internalization of micro-nails that protrude from the transistor gate surface. Internalization provides 3 major advantages:
(1) Anchoring the cell to the transistor thus reducing its mobility;%:(2) Improved electrical coupling of neurons to the transistors;
(3) Improved sensing of neurotransmitters. The protruding u-nails are complemented by chemically modified surfaces decorating the various parts of the nail. Two cellular events are to be induced by the chemically modified surfaces:
(I) assembly of adherence junctions;
(II) internalization of the u-nails by membrane imagination. These will be achieved by:
(a) decorating the nails by biodegradable enzymes that facilitate degradation of the extra cellular matrix and allow intimate contact between the u-nail surface and receptors located on the external surface of the cell membrane;
(b) molecules that tether the cell membrane receptors and facilitate phagocytes or endocytosis of the m-nails by partial internalization;
(c) adhesion molecules that stabilize the binding of the cell membrane to the u-nails and their surroundings. This generic technology may serve as a basis for the construction of biomedical microstructures that will functionally link nerves to robotic prostheses and functionally link damaged neuronal networks.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Topic(s)

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Call for proposal

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Funding Scheme

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STREP - Specific Targeted Research Project

Coordinator

INTERUNIVERSITAIR MICRO-ELECTRONICA CENTRUM
EU contribution
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Address


Belgium

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Total cost

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Participants (2)

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