Symposium SB02 - Biotronics—Soft Ionic and Electronic Devices for Biological Applications
December 03, 2024
Léo Sifringer, ETH Zürich
Soft Electronics and Engineered Nerve-on-a-Chip—Developing a Biohybrid Neural Interface
Written by Ethan To
Standard deep brain implants are often limited by their low stimulation resolution. To address this challenge, Léo Sifringer and colleagues at ETH Zürich are pioneering a biohybrid approach to grow neurons on a chip that readily integrate with endogenous target neurons. Through seeding retinal ganglion cells into a PDMS device that is microstructured with platinum tacks, Sifringer demonstrates the growth of an artificial optic nerve reaching up to 3 mm in length. This artificial neuron can be guided toward neural target structures, enabling sensory innervation and synaptic stimulation of the eye. Remarkably, these lab-grown neurons remained viable for over three weeks, continuing to exhibit spontaneous activity in vivo. This work paves the way for a new kind of neuron interface using a biohybrid approach with promising applications for deep brain stimulation.
Comments