在体酶生物燃料电池的研究进展

酶生物燃料电池(Enzymatic biofuel cells,EBFCs)具有高专一性和催化性能,可催化与氧化还原反应有关的燃料并获得电能.可用的生物燃料,如葡萄糖、乳酸和丙酮酸盐,可以从汗液、泪液和血液中提取,因而以体液为燃料的EBFCs在可植入式或可穿戴式设备中具有良好的应用前景.采用生物电催化机理对酶生物燃料电池在体液发电中的应用进行了研究,以及对可植入式或可穿戴式生物燃料电池的主要挑战和未来的前景进行了展望.     

面向脑机接口的犹他神经电极技术

A human brain is composed of a large number of interconnected neurons forming a neural network. To study the functional mechanism of the neural network, it is necessary to record the activity of individual neurons over a large area simultaneously. Brain-computer interface (BCI) refers to the connection established between the human/animal brain and computers/other electronic devices, which enables direct interaction between the brain and external devices. It plays an important role in understanding, protecting, and simulating the brain, especially in helping patients with neurological disorders to restore their impaired motor and sensory functions. Neural electrodes are electrophysiological devices that form the core of BCI, which convert neuronal electrical signals (carried by ions) into general electrical signals (carried by electrons). They can record or interfere with the state of neural activity. The Utah Electrode Array (UEA) designed by the University of Utah is a mainstream neural electrode fabricated by bulk micromachining. Its unique three-dimensional needle-like structure enables each electrode to obtain high spatiotemporal resolution and good insulation between each other. After implantation, the tip of each electrode affects only a small group of neurons around it even allowing to record the action potential of a single neuron. The availability of a large number of electrodes, high quality of signals, and long service life has made UEA the first choice for collecting neuronal signals. Moreover, UEA is the only implantable neural electrode that can record signals in the human cerebral cortex. This article mainly serves as an introduction to the construction, manufacturing process, and functioning of UEA, with a focus on the research progress in fabricating high-density electrode arrays, wireless neural interfaces, and optrode arrays using silicon, glass, and metal as that material of construction. We also discuss the surface modification techniques that can be used to reduce the electrode impedance, minimize the rejection by brain tissue, and improve the corrosion resistance of the electrode. In addition, we summarize the clinical applications where patients can control external devices and get sensory feedback by implanting UEA. Furthermore, we discuss the challenges faced by existing electrodes such as the difficulty in increasing electrode density, poor response of integrated wireless neural interface, and the problems of biocompatibility. To achieve stability and durability of the electrode, advancements in both material science and manufacturing technology are required. We hope that this review can broaden the scope of ideas for the development of UEA. The realization of a fully implantable neural microsystem can contribute to an improved understanding of the functional mechanisms of the neural network and treatment of neurological diseases.     

《可植入神经修复器件》两卷集简介

2010年秋,我接到在美国洛杉矶工作的旅美华裔学者周道民(David Zhou)博士来信,谈起他参与研究开发的帮助盲人恢复视力的ArgusTMII型植入式视觉修复微芯片系统,经美国食品药品检验局(FDA)批准,正在进行人体试验,进展顺利     

氧化铱纳米颗粒修饰碳纤维电极用于水果中pH在线检测

pH检测在农业生产、食品加工、环境保护、疾病诊断等领域有着重要意义.电化学法具有响应速度快、灵敏度高和操作简单等优点,是目前最常用的pH检测方法之一.然而,商品化的pH计存在体积大、质子敏感膜易损等问题,仅能在相对稳定的样本溶液环境中工作,并不适用于植入式pH分析.本文将氧化铱纳米颗粒修饰在碳纤维微电极表面,构建了一种微型、可植入的固态pH传感器.该传感器具有超能斯特pH响应,可以达到约65.5 mV/pH的灵敏度,宽检测范围(pH≈2–12)和较高稳定性.最后我们将该pH传感器植入水果组织内,实现了水果内pH值的在线检测.     

植入式助听技术

目前在研究耳防护时,往往首先想到对有故障的神经功能的模拟,却很少考虑到其它感官(如视觉、振动党)信息转换成听觉信息的问题.