On-Site Formation of Functional Dopaminergic Presynaptic Terminals on Neuroligin-2-Modified Gold-Coated Microspheres.

Advancements in neural interface technologies have enabled the direct connection of neurons and electronics, facilitating chemical communication between neural systems and external devices. One promising approach is a synaptogenesis-involving method, which offers an opportunity for synaptic signaling between these systems. Janus synapses, one type of synaptic interface utilizing synaptic cell adhesion molecules for interface construction, possess unique features that enable the determination of location, direction of signal flow, and types of neurotransmitters involved, promoting directional and multifaceted communication.

Neuroligin-1-Modified Electrodes for Specific Coupling with a Presynaptic Neuronal Membrane.

Coordination of synapses onto electrodes with high specificity and maintaining a stable and long-lasting interface have importance in the field of neural interfaces. One potential approach is to present ligands on the surface of electrodes that would be bound through a protein-protein interaction to specific areas of neuronal cells. Here, we functionalize electrode surfaces with genetically engineered neuroligin-1 protein and demonstrate the formation of a nascent presynaptic bouton upon binding to neurexin-1 β on the presynaptic membrane of neurons.

Robust Induced Presynapse on Artificial Substrates as a Neural Interfacing Method.

Over the recent years, the development of neural interface systems has stuck to using electrical cues to stimulate neurons and read out neural signals, although neurons relay signals via chemical release and recognition at synapses. In addition, conventional neural interfaces are vulnerable to cell migration and glial encapsulation due to the absence of connection anchoring the neuron into the device unlike synapses, which are firmly sustained by protein bonding. To close this discrepancy, we conducted an intensive investigation into the induced synapse interface by employing engineered synaptic proteins from a neural interface perspective.

A miniaturized solid salt reverse electrodialysis battery: a durable and fully ionic power source.

A novel pump-free miniaturized reverse electrodialysis (RED) system was designed to provide lasting power transduced from salinity gradients, named solid salt RED (ssRED), and this quasi-battery uses a solid salt instead of electrolyte solution for streamlined usage. It is portable, flexible, comparable in size to a universal serial bus flash drive, and easily activated with a small amount of water. It maintains a constant ionic concentration gradient through precipitation reactions between a pair of different salts.

Miniaturized Reverse Electrodialysis-Powered Biosensor Using Electrochemiluminescence on Bipolar Electrode.

We suggest an electrochemiluminescence (ECL)-sensing platform driven by ecofriendly, disposable, and miniaturized reverse electrodialysis (RED) patches as an electric power source. The flexible RED patches composed of ion-exchange membranes (IEMs) can produce voltage required for ECL sensing by simply choosing the appropriate number of IEMs and the ratio of salt concentrations. We integrate the RED patch with a bipolar electrode on the microfluidic chip to demonstrate the proof-of-concept, i.