SKKU Advanced Institute of Nano Technology (SAINT), Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, 16419, Republic of Korea.
Department of Nano Science and Technology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, 16419, Republic of Korea.
Nat Commun. 2023 Feb 14;14(1):821. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-36480-6.
The human olfactory system comprises olfactory receptor neurons, projection neurons, and interneurons that perform remarkably sophisticated functions, including sensing, filtration, memorization, and forgetting of chemical stimuli for perception. Developing an artificial olfactory system that can mimic these functions has proved to be challenging. Herein, inspired by the neuronal network inside the glomerulus of the olfactory bulb, we present an artificial chemosensory neuronal synapse that can sense chemical stimuli and mimic the functions of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitter release in the synapses between olfactory receptor neurons, projection neurons, and interneurons. The proposed device is based on a flexible organic electrochemical transistor gated by the potential generated by the interaction of gas molecules with ions in a chemoreceptive ionogel. The combined use of a chemoreceptive ionogel and an organic semiconductor channel allows for a long retentive memory in response to chemical stimuli. Long-term memorization of the excitatory chemical stimulus can be also erased by applying an inhibitory electrical stimulus due to ion dynamics in the chemoresponsive ionogel gate electrolyte. Applying a simple device design, we were able to mimic the excitatory and inhibitory synaptic functions of chemical synapses in the olfactory system, which can further advance the development of artificial neuronal systems for biomimetic chemosensory applications.
人类嗅觉系统包括嗅觉受体神经元、投射神经元和中间神经元，它们执行着非常复杂的功能，包括对感知化学刺激的感应、过滤、记忆和遗忘。开发能够模拟这些功能的人工嗅觉系统已被证明具有挑战性。在此，受嗅球小球内神经元网络的启发，我们提出了一种人工化学感觉神经元突触，它可以感应化学刺激，并模拟嗅觉受体神经元、投射神经元和中间神经元之间突触中兴奋性和抑制性神经递质释放的功能。该装置基于一种柔性有机电化学晶体管，由气体分子与化学感受离聚物中离子相互作用产生的电势控制。化学感受离聚物和有机半导体沟道的结合使用允许对化学刺激产生长时间的保留记忆。由于化学响应离聚物栅电解质中的离子动力学，应用抑制性电刺激也可以擦除兴奋性化学刺激的长期记忆。通过采用简单的器件设计，我们能够模拟嗅觉系统中化学突触的兴奋性和抑制性突触功能，这将进一步推动用于仿生化学感觉应用的人工神经元系统的发展。
