Artificial technology has long captured our attention. But lab-grown blood, miniature brains, and breast tissue just aren’t enough for scientists. They are now creating an artificial neuron that, surprisingly, functions like the real thing. The fake cell manages to capture the fundamental signal-transmitting function of neurons and can communicate with real human cells and astonishingly, this is all possible in the absence of any living parts.
Neurons, or nerves, are specialized cells whose role is to process and transmit information to other cells. They release chemical signals, or neurotransmitters, to communicate with each other across a small intercellular gap known as a synapse. These chemicals are then taken up by the adjoining cell and converted into an electrical signal. This electrical signal then propagates along the neuron’s spindly axon and when reaches the other end, the electrical signal is once again converted into a chemical signal that gets released across the synapse.
The fascinating artificial neuron is built to mimic the process of a synapse. Scientists at Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet connected enzyme-based biosensors to organic bioelectronics. The sensors then picked up chemical changes in their surrounding environment, induced by the researchers, which were then translated into an electrical signal by an electronic pump that controls the flow of charged ions. Finally, the electrical signal is turned back into a chemical signal, involving the release of a neurotransmitter in a different dish, which can then act on human cells.
With further development and miniaturization, the researchers believe that these cells could have a place outside the laboratory. In the future, it might be possible to use artificial neurons in patients to replace damaged nerves. They may also have a place in the prosthetics industry, as surgeons may be able to use them as a bridge between a person’s tissue and an artificial limb……
See full story on bigthink.com
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