Central OC Times

Researchers from the University of California, Irvine and Columbia University have developed a new biocompatible sensor implant designed to monitor neurological functions through various stages of development. This innovation involves embedding transistors in a soft, conformable material that aligns with the body's tissues.

In their publication in Nature Communications, the researchers detail their construction of complementary, internal, ion-gated, organic electrochemical transistors. These transistors are more chemically, biologically, and electronically compatible with living tissues compared to traditional rigid silicon-based technologies. The device can operate in sensitive body areas and adapt to organ structures as they grow.

Dion Khodagholy, co-author and Henry Samueli Faculty Excellence Professor at UC Irvine's Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, explained: “Advanced electronics have been in development for several decades now, so there is a large repository of available circuit designs. The problem is that most of these transistor and amplifier technologies are not compatible with our physiology.” He added that they used organic polymer materials to interact with ions since the brain and body's communication is ionic rather than electronic.

Standard bioelectronics use different materials for complementary transistors to handle varying signal polarities. However, this approach poses risks when implanted in sensitive areas due to toxicity concerns. To address this issue, the research team created asymmetric transistors operable using a single biocompatible material.

First author Duncan Wisniewski noted: “A transistor is like a simple valve that controls the flow of current. In our transistors, the physical process that controls this modulation is governed by the electrochemical doping and de-doping of the channel.” This design simplifies fabrication processes allowing for large-scale manufacturing and potential applications beyond neurology.

Khodagholy emphasized scalability: “You can make different device sizes and still maintain this complementarity.” Jennifer Gelinas highlighted its potential for pediatric applications due to its adaptability during tissue growth phases.

The paper outlines another advantage: it can be implanted in developing animals without compromising functionality as tissue structures evolve—a feat not possible with rigid implants.

Joining Khodagholy, Gelinas, and Wisniewski on this project were Claudia Cea, Liang Ma, Alexander Ranschaert, Onni Rauhala, and Zifang Zhao from Columbia University. Funding was provided by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.

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