Organic Neuromorphic Electronics for Emulating and Interfacing Biological Systems

Neurons are the fundamental elements of the nervous system, coping with a great diversity of electrobiochemical signals. Neuronal function is an archetype for biomimicry with neuromorphic electronics. However, artificial neurons based on electronics are insufficiently capable of operating in situ in biological environments, thus hampering the seamless sensing and biointerfacing as well as the biorealistic neuronal emulation. A few examples of soft-matter artificial neurons are based on conventional circuit oscillators and therefore require many elements for their implementation. An organic artificial neuron consisting of a compact non-linear electrochemical element will be presented. The artificial neuron displays in situ operation in biologically relevant environments that displays spiking dynamics sensitive to common ions of the biological aqueous milieu, within physiopathological concentration ranges (~ 5-150mM), and with ion specificity. Small-amplitude (~ 1-150 mV) electrochemical oscillations and noise in the electrolytic medium shape the neuronal dynamics, while changes of ionic (≥ 2% over physiological baseline) and biomolecular concentrations (≥ 0.1 mM dopamine) modulate the neuronal excitability. The artificial neuron operates synergistically with bio-membranes, forming real-time biohybrid interfaces. This electrochemical artificial neuron opens new possibilities for the seamless communication and the realistic emulation of biology with electronics.