Advanced Organic Electrochemical Transistors Enhance Bioelectronics

New Biocompatible Transistors Revolutionize Neurological Monitoring

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Researchers at UC Irvine and Columbia University have developed biocompatible sensor implants with embedded transistors, designed to monitor neurological functions through various developmental stages. Their work, detailed in Nature Communications, highlights the use of ion-gated, organic electrochemical transistors, which are more compatible with living tissues compared to traditional silicon-based technologies. These transistors can adapt to sensitive body parts and conform to growing organ structures.

Dion Khodagholy, a professor at UC Irvine, focused on the fact that while advanced electronics have been in development for decades, many existing technologies are not suitable for human physiology. By using organic polymer materials that interact with ions, the researchers have created a device that aligns more closely with the body's natural communication processes. In standard bioelectronics, complementary transistors often use different materials for signal polarity, posing toxicity risks and being inflexible. Researchers at UC Irvine and Columbia University addressed this by creating asymmetric transistors operable with a single biocompatible material. First author Duncan Wisniewski explained that their transistors control current flow through electrochemical doping and de-doping of the channel. By designing asymmetrical contacts, they can switch focus from negative to positive potential, making a complementary device with one material.

This single-polymer design simplifies fabrication, enabling large-scale production and application beyond neurology to various biopotential processes.Khodagholy, leading the UC Irvine Translational Neuroelectronics Laboratory, noted the scalability of their work, allowing different device sizes and materials while maintaining complementarity. Another notable advantage of the device, highlighted in Nature Communications, is its ability to be implanted in developing animals and adapt to changes in tissue structure as the organism grows. This capability is not achievable with rigid, silicon-based implants, making the device particularly valuable for pediatric applications, according to co-author Jennifer Gelinas, UC Irvine associate professor and physician at Children’s Hospital of Orange County.

Khodagholy noted that their complementary, ion-gated, organic electrochemical transistors create robust, integrated circuits capable of high-quality acquisition and processing of biological signals. This innovation broadens the application of bioelectronics beyond traditional, bulky, non biocompatible components. Collaborating on this project with Khodagholy, Gelinas, and Wisniewski were Claudia Cea, Liang Ma, Alexander Ranschaert, Onni Rauhala, and Zifang Zhao from Columbia University. The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.

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Editor's Note

Researchers at UC Irvine and Columbia University have developed biocompatible sensor implants with embedded transistors, which adapt to growing tissues and monitor neurological functions. Using ion-gated, organic electrochemical transistors, they address the limitations of traditional silicon-based technologies. This innovative approach simplifies fabrication and expands applications to various biopotential processes, particularly valuable for pediatric care.

Skoobuzz underscores that this research  reflects UC Irvine's commitment to excellence and innovation.