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Implanted an electronic nerve, the mouse, which had lost its mobility, kicked the ball directly.
This matter is now published in Nature's sub-journal Nature Biomedical Engineering, and the research team is led by the well-known Chinese scientist Zhenan Bao.
And such an artificial "nerve", like a real nerve, works by transmitting biological nerve signals to organs.
Tae-Woo Lee, another corresponding author of the paper, said:
This is the first time that a neural signal is transmitted to a biological organ by biologically simulating an electronic nerve.
Bao Zhenan, on the other hand, points out the potential more directly: it provides a theoretical building block for friendlier and more practical wearable neural prosthetics.
Use artificial nerves to restore the affected mouse to autonomous movement
In fact, the use of functional electrical stimulation to help patients who have lost their motor ability due to nerve damage for rehabilitation is not uncommon in clinical practice.
The problem is that traditional neurological rehabilitation devices are still some distance from daily use.
△图源：Neural Prosthetics: A Review of Empirical vs. Systems Engineering Strategies
On the one hand, traditional devices often rely on external computers, which consume more power and have poor biocompatibility.
On the other hand, if you use electrical impulses of constant intensity to stimulate the body, it may cause the muscles to contract violently, causing discomfort.
If a voltage ramp is used during the stimulation start and stop phases, an additional function generator is required, resulting in a more bulky device.
So researchers at Seoul National University and Stanford University set their sights on artificial nerves.
Specifically, the researchers proposed a stretchable neuromorphic efferent nerve (SNEN).
SNEN bypasses damaged nerves, redirects electrophysiological signals through soft nerve interfaces and stretchable electronic systems, and sends them to muscles, acting as an alternative to impaired nerve function.
Structurally, SNEN uses organic semiconductor nanowires as artificial synapses and carbon nanotube (CNT) strain transducers as artificial muscle spindles.
That is, the researchers built an "artificial proprioception" to provide real-time feedback to electronic nerves without the need for external computer power.
Proprioproxitors in the human body are located in the sensory nerve endings of the motor organs, which can convert the stimulus signals generated by the movement into nerve impulses into the central nervous system to stabilize the posture of the body and regulate the movement of the body.
The bionic input action potential (AP) signal is fed into an artificial proprioreceptor and then transferred to a synaptic transistor.
Carbon nanotube strain sensors detect muscle strain and adjust the output voltage of artificial proprioreceptors.
Thereafter, the analog feedback-controlled presynaptic voltage pulse is applied to the gate of the artificial synaptic transistor, resulting in a post-synaptic discharge output signal that stimulates the mouse leg muscles.
This way, just like real nerves, these artificial nerves can release electrical signals that gradually increase/decrease in intensity.
In addition, the power consumption of the device is only 1/150 of that of traditional microprocessor systems.
The results of the experiment showed that the paralyzed mice implanted with this artificial nerve successfully resumed leg movements: walking and running movements were realized on the treadmill.
And as shown at the beginning, the researchers also arranged the kicking.
Corresponding author Tae-Woo Lee said:
The study used neuromorphology rather than biomedical techniques to overcome the engineering practice of nerve damage.
This opens up a new path to improving the quality of life for those suffering from related diseases.
Research team
The research came from an international team led by Professor Bao Zhenan of Stanford University and Professor Tae-Woo Lee of Seoul National University.
Bao Zhenan is a well-known Chinese chemist, a foreign academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, an academician of the National Academy of Engineering, an academician of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Stanford University.
She is known worldwide for her achievements in the field of organic electronic materials and devices, and is recognized as a pioneer and leader in printed organic electronics and biomimetic organic electronics.
Tae-Woo Lee is a professor at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, And former visiting professor at Stanford University.
Reference Links:
[1]https://www.nature.com/articles/s41551-022-00918-x
[2]https://spectrum.ieee.org/artificial-nerves
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