Integrated bioelectronic proton-gated logic elements utilizing nanoscale patterned Nafion

High-Density Artificial Synapse Array Consisting of Homogeneous Electrolyte-Gated Transistors

The artificial synapse array with an electrolyte-gated transistor (EGT) as an array unit presents considerable potential for neuromorphic computation. However, the integration of EGTs faces the drawback of the conflict between the polymer electrolytes and photo-lithography. This study presents a scheme based on a lateral-gate structure to realize high-density integration of EGTs and proposes the integration of 100 × 100 EGTs into a 2.5 × 2.5 cm2 glass, with a unit density of up to 1600 devices cm-2 . Furthermore, an electrolyte framework is developed to enhance the array performance, with ionic conductivity of up to 2.87 × 10-3  S cm-1 owing to the porosity of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks-67. The artificial synapse array realizes image processing functions, and exhibits high performance and homogeneity. The handwriting recognition accuracy of a representative device reaches 92.80%, with the standard deviation of all the devices being limited to 9.69%. The integrated array and its high performance demonstrate the feasibility of the scheme and provide a solid reference for the integration of EGTs.

Proton-Gated Synaptic Transistors, Based on an Electron-Beam Patterned Nafion Electrolyte

Neuromorphic processors using artificial neural networks are the center of attention for energy-efficient analog computing. Artificial synapses act as building blocks in such neural networks for parallel information processing and data storage. Herein we describe the fabrication of a proton-gated synaptic transistor using a Nafion electrolyte thin film, which is patterned by electron-beam lithography (EBL). The device has an active channel of indium-zinc-oxide (IZO) between the source and drain electrodes, which shows Ohmic behavior with a conductance level on the order of 100 μS. Under voltage applications to the gate electrode, the channel conductance is changed due to the injection and extraction of protons between the IZO channel and the Nafion electrolyte, emulating various synaptic functions with short-term and long-term plasticity. When positive (negative) gate voltage pulses are consecutively applied, the device exhibits long-term potentiation (depression) at the same number of steps as the number of input pulses. Based on these characteristics, an artificial neural network using this transistor shows ∼84% image recognition accuracy for handwritten digits. The subject transistor also successfully mimics paired-pulse facilitation and depression, Hebbian spike-timing-dependent plasticity, and Pavlovian associative learning followed by extinction activities. Finally, dynamical pattern image memorization is demonstrated in a 5 × 5 array of these synaptic transistors. The results indicate that EBL patternable Nafion electrolytes have great potential for use in the fabrication and circuit-level integration of synaptic devices for neuromorphic computing applications.

Heat-Driven Iontronic Nanotransistors

Thermoelectric polyelectrolytes are emerging as ideal material platform for self-powered bio-compatible electronic devices and sensors. However, despite the nanoscale nature of the ionic thermodiffusion processes underlying thermoelectric efficiency boost in polyelectrolytes, to date no evidence for direct probing of ionic diffusion on its relevant length and time scale has been reported. This gap is bridged by developing heat-driven hybrid nanotransistors based on InAs nanowires embedded in thermally biased Na⁺ -functionalized (poly)ethyleneoxide, where the semiconducting nanostructure acts as a nanoscale probe sensitive to the local arrangement of the ionic species. The impact of ionic thermoelectric gating on the nanodevice electrical response is addressed, investigating the effect of device architecture, bias configuration and frequency of the heat stimulus, and inferring optimal conditions for the heat-driven nanotransistor operation. Microscopic quantities of the polyelectrolyte such as the ionic diffusion coefficient are extracted from the analysis of hysteretic behaviors rising in the nanodevices. The reported experimental platform enables simultaneously the ionic thermodiffusion and nanoscale resolution, providing a framework for direct estimation of polyelectrolytes microscopic parameters. This may open new routes for heat-driven nanoelectronic applications and boost the rational design of next-generation polymer-based thermoelectric materials.

The importance of water content on the conductivity of biomaterials and bioelectronic devices

Conductive biocompatible-, bioinspired- and biomaterials are increasing in importance, especially in bioelectronic applications where these materials are used in a variety of devices. Given the intended purpose of many of these devices is to interface with the human body, a pertinent issue is the effect of water from the environment on the electrical properties of the materials and devices. A researcher on biomaterials may currently not be aware, but the conductivity of these materials and device performances can be significantly altered with the presence of hydration in the environment. Examples will be given to highlight the problem that the conductivity of biomaterials can change by orders of magnitude depending on water content. Furthermore, case studies will be discussed in which control of the water content was key to understanding the underlying charge transport mechanism of conductive biomaterials. Examples of various devices and their response to hydration content will also be covered. Finally, this perspective will also mention the various methods of hydration control (including contrast studies) that can be used to perform careful work on conductive biomaterials and devices. Overall, water content should be considered an environmental variable as important as temperature to control for sound scientific investigation and to yield understanding of conductive biomaterials and bioelectronic devices.

Systematic in situ hydration neutron reflectometry study on Nafion thin films

Nafion thin films continuously form an increasing number of lamellae layers (high Q peak) near a substrate surface with increasing hydration content, as opposed to exhibiting a phase transition like change.

Interfacial water morphology in hydrated melanin

The importance of electrically functional biomaterials is increasing as researchers explore ways to utilise them in novel sensing capacities. It has been recognised that for many of these materials the state of hydration is a key parameter that can heavily affect the conductivity, particularly those that rely upon ionic or proton transport as a key mechanism. However, thus far little attention has been paid to the nature of the water morphology in the hydrated state and the concomitant ionic conductivity. Presented here is an inelastic neutron scattering (INS) experiment on hydrated eumelanin, a model bioelectronic material, in order to investigate its 'water morphology'. We develop a rigorous new methodology for performing hydration dependent INS experiments. We also model the eumelanin dry spectra with a minimalist approach whereas for higher hydration levels we are able to obtain difference spectra to extract out the water scattering signal. A key result is that the physi-sorbed water structure within eumelanin is dominated by interfacial water with the number of water layers between 3-5, and no bulk water. We also detect for the first time, the potential signatures for proton cations, most likely the Zundel ion, within a biopolymer/water system. These new signatures may be general for soft proton ionomer systems, if the systems are comprised of only interfacial water within their structure. The nature of the water morphology opens up new questions about the potential ionic charge transport mechanisms within hydrated bioelectronics materials.

Ultrasensitive bioassaying of HER-2 protein for diagnosis of breast cancer using reduced graphene oxide/chitosan as nanobiocompatible platform

Background

In this label-free bioassay, an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) immunosensor was developed for the quantification of breast cancer using HER-2 protein as a metastatic biomarker.

Method

For this purpose, the ECL emitter, [Ru(bpy)3]2+, was embedded into biocompatible chitosan (CS) polymer. The prepared bio-composite offered high ECL reading due to the depletion of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) protein. Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was used as substrate to increase signal stability and achieve greater sensitivity. For this, rGO was initially placed electrochemically on the glassy carbon electrode (GCE) surface by cyclic voltammetry (CV) technique. Next, the prepared CS/[Ru(bpy)3]2+ biopolymer solution was coated on a drop of the modified electrode such that the amine groups of CS and the carboxylic groups of rGO could covalently interact. Using EDC/NHS chemistry, monoclonal antibodies (Abs) of HER-2 were linked to CS/[Ru(bpy)3]2+/rGO/GCE via amide bonds between the carboxylic groups of Ab molecules and amine groups of CS. The electrochemical behavior of the electrode was studied using different electrochemical techniques such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV) and also ECL tests.

Results

After passing all optimization steps, the lower limit of detection (LLOQ) and linear dynamic range (LDR) of HER-2 protein were practically obtained as 1 fM and 1 fM to 1 nM, individually. Importantly, the within and between laboratory precisions were performed and the suitable relative standard deviations (RSDs) were recorded as 3.1 and 3.5%, respectively.

Conclusions

As a proof of concept, the designed immunosensor was desirably applied for the quantification of HER-2 protein in breast cancer suffering patients. As a result, the designed ECL-based immunosensor has the capability of being used as a conventional test method in biomedical laboratories for early detection of HER-2 protein in biological fluids.

Graphic Abstract