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Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach,... Aug 2021The growing demand for ubiquitous data collection has driven the development of sensing technologies with local data processing. As a result, solution-processed...
The growing demand for ubiquitous data collection has driven the development of sensing technologies with local data processing. As a result, solution-processed semiconductors are widely employed due to their compatibility with low-cost additive manufacturing on a wide range of substrates. However, to fully realize their potential in sensing applications, high-performance scalable analog amplifiers must be realized. Here, ohmic-contact-gated transistors (OCGTs) based on solution-processed semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes are introduced to address this unmet need. This new device concept enables output current saturation in the short-channel limit without compromising output current drive. The resulting OCGTs are used in common-source amplifiers to achieve the highest width-normalized output current (≈30 µA µm ) and length-scaled signal gain (≈230 µm ) to date for solution-processed semiconductors. The utility of these amplifiers for emerging sensing technologies is demonstrated by the amplification of complex millivolt-scale analog biological signals including the outputs of electromyography, photoplethysmogram, and accelerometer sensors. Since the OCGT design is compatible with other solution-processed semiconducting materials, this work establishes a general route to high-performance, solution-processed analog electronics.
PubMed: 34270835
DOI: 10.1002/adma.202100994 -
Methods in Enzymology 2021Membrane potential is a fundamental biophysical parameter common to all of cellular life. Traditional methods to measure membrane potential rely on electrodes, which are...
Membrane potential is a fundamental biophysical parameter common to all of cellular life. Traditional methods to measure membrane potential rely on electrodes, which are invasive and low-throughput. Optical methods to measure membrane potential are attractive because they have the potential to be less invasive and higher throughput than classic electrode based techniques. However, most optical measurements rely on changes in fluorescence intensity to detect changes in membrane potential. In this chapter, we discuss the use of fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) and voltage-sensitive fluorophores (VoltageFluors, or VF dyes) to estimate the millivolt value of membrane potentials in living cells. We discuss theory, application, protocols, and shortcomings of this approach.
Topics: Fluorescent Dyes; Membrane Potentials; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Optical Imaging
PubMed: 34099175
DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2021.02.009 -
Nature Communications May 2021Oxygen release and irreversible cation migration are the main causes of voltage fade in Li-rich transition metal oxide cathode. But their correlation is not very clear...
Oxygen release and irreversible cation migration are the main causes of voltage fade in Li-rich transition metal oxide cathode. But their correlation is not very clear and voltage decay is still a bottleneck. Herein, we modulate the oxygen anionic redox chemistry by constructing LiZrO slabs into LiMnO domain in LiNiMnO, which induces the lattice strain, tunes the chemical environment for redox-active oxygen and enlarges the gap between metallic and anionic bands. This modulation expands the region in which lattice oxygen contributes capacity by oxidation to oxygen holes and relieves the charge transfer from anionic band to antibonding metal-oxygen band under a deep delithiation. This restrains cation reduction, metal-oxygen bond fracture, and the formation of localized O molecule, which fundamentally inhibits lattice oxygen escape and cation migration. The modulated cathode demonstrates a low voltage decay rate (0.45 millivolt per cycle) and a long cyclic stability.
PubMed: 34031408
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23365-9 -
ACS Nano Mar 2021Negative capacitance field-effect transistors (NC-FETs) have attracted wide interest as promising candidates for steep-slope devices, and sub-60 millivolts/decade...
Negative capacitance field-effect transistors (NC-FETs) have attracted wide interest as promising candidates for steep-slope devices, and sub-60 millivolts/decade (mV/decade) switching has been demonstrated in NC-FETs with various device structures and material systems. However, the detailed mechanisms of the observed steep-slope switching in some of these experiments are under intense debate. Here we show that sub-60 mV/decade switching can be observed in a WS transistor with a metal-insulator-metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIMIS) structure without any ferroelectric component. This structure resembles an NC-FET with internal gate, except that the ferroelectric layer is replaced by a leaky dielectric layer. Through simulations of the charging dynamics during the device characterization using a resistor-capacitor network model, we show that the observed steep-slope switching in our "ferroelectric-free" transistors can be attributed to the internal gate voltage response to the chosen varying gate voltage scan rates. We further show that a constant gate voltage scan rate can also lead to transient sub-60 mV/decade switching in an MIMIS structure with voltage-dependent internal gate capacitance. Our results indicate that the observation of sub-60 mV/decade switching alone is not sufficient evidence for the successful demonstration of a true steep-slope switching device and that experimentalists need to critically assess their measurement setups to avoid measurement-related artifacts.
PubMed: 33705109
DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c10344 -
Nature Communications Feb 2021A graphdiyne-based artificial synapse (GAS), exhibiting intrinsic short-term plasticity, has been proposed to mimic biological signal transmission behavior. The impulse...
A graphdiyne-based artificial synapse (GAS), exhibiting intrinsic short-term plasticity, has been proposed to mimic biological signal transmission behavior. The impulse response of the GAS has been reduced to several millivolts with competitive femtowatt-level consumption, exceeding the biological level by orders of magnitude. Most importantly, the GAS is capable of parallelly processing signals transmitted from multiple pre-neurons and therefore realizing dynamic logic and spatiotemporal rules. It is also found that the GAS is thermally stable (at 353 K) and environmentally stable (in a relative humidity up to 35%). Our artificial efferent nerve, connecting the GAS with artificial muscles, has been demonstrated to complete the information integration of pre-neurons and the information output of motor neurons, which is advantageous for coalescing multiple sensory feedbacks and reacting to events. Our synaptic element has potential applications in bioinspired peripheral nervous systems of soft electronics, neurorobotics, and biohybrid systems of brain-computer interfaces.
Topics: Dendrites; Density Functional Theory; Diffusion; Graphite; Ions; Nerve Net; Neuronal Plasticity; Neurons, Efferent; Signal Transduction; Synapses; Temperature
PubMed: 33594066
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21319-9 -
PLoS Computational Biology Feb 2021Axonal connections are widely regarded as faithful transmitters of neuronal signals with fixed delays. The reasoning behind this is that extracellular potentials caused...
Axonal connections are widely regarded as faithful transmitters of neuronal signals with fixed delays. The reasoning behind this is that extracellular potentials caused by spikes travelling along axons are too small to have an effect on other axons. Here we devise a computational framework that allows us to study the effect of extracellular potentials generated by spike volleys in axonal fibre bundles on axonal transmission delays. We demonstrate that, although the extracellular potentials generated by single spikes are of the order of microvolts, the collective extracellular potential generated by spike volleys can reach several millivolts. As a consequence, the resulting depolarisation of the axonal membranes increases the velocity of spikes, and therefore reduces axonal delays between brain areas. Driving a neural mass model with such spike volleys, we further demonstrate that only ephaptic coupling can explain the reduction of stimulus latencies with increased stimulus intensities, as observed in many psychological experiments.
Topics: Action Potentials; Animals; Axons; Biophysical Phenomena; Computational Biology; Computer Simulation; Extracellular Space; Humans; Models, Neurological; Nerve Fibers, Myelinated; Synaptic Transmission; White Matter
PubMed: 33556058
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007858 -
Proceedings of the National Academy of... Feb 2021Voltage sensing with genetically expressed optical probes is highly desirable for large-scale recordings of neuronal activity and detection of localized voltage signals...
Voltage sensing with genetically expressed optical probes is highly desirable for large-scale recordings of neuronal activity and detection of localized voltage signals in single neurons. Most genetically encodable voltage indicators (GEVI) have drawbacks including slow response, low fluorescence, or excessive bleaching. Here we present a dark quencher GEVI approach (dqGEVI) using a Förster resonance energy transfer pair between a fluorophore glycosylphosphatidylinositol-enhanced green fluorescent protein (GPI-eGFP) on the outer surface of the neuronal membrane and an azo-benzene dye quencher (D3) that rapidly moves in the membrane driven by voltage. In contrast to previous probes, the sensor has a single photon bleaching time constant of ∼40 min, has a high temporal resolution and fidelity for detecting action potential firing at 100 Hz, resolves membrane de- and hyperpolarizations of a few millivolts, and has negligible effects on passive membrane properties or synaptic events. The dqGEVI approach should be a valuable tool for optical recordings of subcellular or population membrane potential changes in nerve cells.
Topics: Action Potentials; Animals; Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer; Fluorescent Dyes; Green Fluorescent Proteins; HEK293 Cells; Humans; Membrane Potentials; Memory; Neurons
PubMed: 33531364
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2020235118 -
Nature Nanotechnology Mar 2021Quantum computers promise to execute complex tasks exponentially faster than any possible classical computer, and thus spur breakthroughs in quantum chemistry, material...
Quantum computers promise to execute complex tasks exponentially faster than any possible classical computer, and thus spur breakthroughs in quantum chemistry, material science and machine learning. However, quantum computers require fast and selective control of large numbers of individual qubits while maintaining coherence. Qubits based on hole spins in one-dimensional germanium/silicon nanostructures are predicted to experience an exceptionally strong yet electrically tunable spin-orbit interaction, which allows us to optimize qubit performance by switching between distinct modes of ultrafast manipulation, long coherence and individual addressability. Here we used millivolt gate voltage changes to tune the Rabi frequency of a hole spin qubit in a germanium/silicon nanowire from 31 to 219 MHz, its driven coherence time between 7 and 59 ns, and its Landé g-factor from 0.83 to 1.27. We thus demonstrated spin-orbit switch functionality, with on/off ratios of roughly seven, which could be further increased through improved gate design. Finally, we used this control to optimize our qubit further and approach the strong driving regime, with spin-flipping times as short as ~1 ns.
PubMed: 33432204
DOI: 10.1038/s41565-020-00828-6 -
Translational Vision Science &... Oct 2020The epithelium lining the ocular surface, which includes corneal and conjunctival epithelia, expresses the prosecretory chloride channel cystic fibrosis transmembrane...
PURPOSE
The epithelium lining the ocular surface, which includes corneal and conjunctival epithelia, expresses the prosecretory chloride channel cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and the proabsorptive epithelial sodium channel (ENaC). Here, methodology was established to measure the millivolt (mV) potential differences at the ocular surface, called ocular surface potential difference (OSPD), in human subjects produced by ion transport.
METHODS
OSPD was measured in human subjects in which a fluid-filled measuring electrode contacted a fluid pool created by eversion of the lateral lower eyelid, with a reference electrode placed subcutaneously in the forearm. Through the use of a high-impedance voltmeter, OSPD was measured continuously over 10 to 15 minutes in response to a series of perfusate fluid exchanges.
RESULTS
Baseline OSPD (± SEM) in six normal human subjects was -21.3 ± 3.6 mV. OSPD depolarized by 1.7 ± 0.6 mV following the addition of the ENaC inhibitor amiloride, hyperpolarized by 6.8 ± 1.5 mV with a zero chloride solution, and further hyperpolarized by 15.9 ± 1.6 mV following CFTR activation by isoproterenol. The isoproterenol-induced hyperpolarization was absent in two cystic fibrosis subjects lacking functional CFTR. OSPD measurement produced minimal epithelial injury.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results establish the feasibility and safety of OSPD measurement in humans and demonstrate robust CFTR activity, albeit minimal ENaC activity, at the ocular surface. OSPD measurement may be broadly applicable to investigate fluid transport mechanisms and test drug candidates to treat ocular surface disorders.
TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first measurement of the electrical potential generated by the ocular surface epithelium in human subjects, offering a new approach to study ocular surface function and health.
Topics: Amiloride; Cystic Fibrosis; Epithelial Sodium Channels; Eye; Humans; Ion Transport; Ocular Physiological Phenomena; Research Subjects
PubMed: 33117611
DOI: 10.1167/tvst.9.11.20 -
ACS Applied Bio Materials Oct 2020The interface between electronic components and biological objects plays a crucial role in the success of bioelectronic devices. Since the electronics typically include...
The interface between electronic components and biological objects plays a crucial role in the success of bioelectronic devices. Since the electronics typically include different elements such as an insulating substrate in combination with conducting electrodes, an important issue of bioelectronics involves tailoring and optimizing the interface for any envisioned applications. In this paper, we present a method for functionalizing insulating substrates (SiO) and metallic electrodes (Pt) simultaneously with a stable monolayer of organic molecules ((3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES)). This monolayer is characterized by high molecule density, long-term stability, and positive surface net charge and most likely represents a self-assembled monolayer (SAM). It facilitates the conversion of biounfriendly Pt surfaces into biocompatible surfaces, which allows cell growth (neurons) on both functionalized components, SiO and Pt, which is comparable to that of reference samples coated with poly-L-lysine (PLL). Moreover, the functionalization greatly improves the electronic cell-chip coupling, thereby enabling the recording of action potential signals of several millivolts at APTES-functionalized Pt electrodes.
PubMed: 35019371
DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.0c00936