An interdisciplinary Research Team Led by Professor Francesca Santoro and Dr. Valeria CriColo from the Institute of Biological Information Processing – Bioelectronics at Forschungszentrum Jülich, in Cooperation with Colleagues from Rwth Aachen University – Professor Daniele Leonori and Junior Professor Giovanni Maria PICCINI (Now University of Modena and Reggio Emilia) – has designed a new class of organic photoelectrochemical transistors (OPEC). These tiny devices can convert light into electrical signals and imitate the behavior of synapses in the brain. Research results have now been published in the research review Advanced science.
Our brains work by passing signals between nerve cells, adapting over time to learn and remember. Scientists try to recreate this type of behavior in electronic devices, a area known as neuromorphic electronics. One way to do so is to develop materials that can “learn” in a similar way to how the brain is doing.
The Jülich and Aix-Un team took an important step in this area. What makes their new special technology is that its properties can be adjusted with precision using chemistry. This means that the material can be adapted to be particularly sensitive to light or capable of transmitting particularly stable signals. This opens many potential applications: the platform could serve as an interface between technology and nerve cells, for example in visual prostheses or other medical devices. Highly sensitive optical sensors and new cerebral-machine interfaces are also possible. Another advantage is that components have low energy consumption and can be flexibly adapted to different requirements.
For the device to be used later with real nerve cells or eye tissue, the material must be biocompatible – in other words, compatible with the human body – and the function at body temperature. Researchers therefore use a special plastic called PEDOT: PSS, which has been modified with light molecules. This material performs electricity while remaining soft and flexible, which makes it suitable for use at the interface between electronics and biological tissues.
In the long term, this research could open the way to new approaches to treat retinal diseases, such as age -related visual disorders. However, before being able to be used in medicine, technology must be tested with care to ensure that it is compatible with living tissues. To do this, the researchers carry out so -called in vitro analyzes – laboratory tests carried out outside the body – and examine among other nervous tissue.