Within the framework of efforts on the development of bioelectronics aimed at correcting the dysfunctions of the body and brain, an international group of researchers has developed an innovative biochip that imitates the work of the human retina. This development is part of the joint work of specialists from the Forgives Center Julikh, the RVTG University of Aichens, the Italian Institute of Technology, and the University of Napolitan. The results of their work were published in the journal Nature Communications.
The creation of this chip symbolizes the first steps towards the reality of cyborgs, which has long ceased to be only science fiction. People are already using pacemakers to treat arrhythmias, cochlear implants to improve hearing, and retinal implants to help visually impaired people achieve at least partial vision. The new chip developed by the Santoro group is a combination of conducting polymers and photosensitive molecules that can imitate the work of the retina, including the visual pathways. This achievement opens up opportunities for an even closer merger of a person and machine.
Francesca Santoro, a professor of neuroelectronic interfaces at the University of Acheens and a visitor-researcher at the Italian Institute of Technology, explains: “Our organic semiconductor recognizes the amount of light falling on it, just as it happens in our eyes. The amount of light falling on separate photoreceptors ultimately creates an image in the brain.”
The chip differs in that it consists completely of non-toxic organic components, is flexible, and works on the basis of ions, which are charged atoms or molecules. This allows it to better integrate into biological systems compared to traditional silicon semiconductor components, which are rigid and only work with electrons. “Our cells use ions to control certain processes and exchange information,” the researcher explains.
At the moment, the development is only a “proof of concept”, but scientists are already considering the possible application of the chip. It can function as an artificial synapse, as radiation with light changes the conductivity of the polymer used in both the short and long term. Real synapses work in a similar way by transmitting electrical signals, thereby changing their size and effectiveness, which is the basis for the brain’s ability to learn and memorize. Santoro says, “In future experiments, we want to combine components with biological cells and integrate multiple separate chips together.”