American scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed sensors to measure the state of human nerve cells. They wrap around different parts of neurons, similar to fitness trackers and other wearable electronic devices. The research was published today in the scientific journal magazine Nature Contact Chemistry (NCC).
The new devices are made of a soft polymer called azobenzene and do not require batteries to operate. The sensors tightly cover axons and dendrites and record the neuron’s electrical and metabolic activity at the subcellular level.
Through material transformation, thin sheets of azobenzene fold when exposed to light, allowing them to wrap around cells.
Experiments have shown that the intensity and polarization of light can precisely control the folding direction and diameter of azobenzene plates.
According to the authors of the development, wearable devices for neurons can not only read indicators, but also repair the deterioration of nerve tissue in such diseases.
Because azobenzene acts as an insulator, it can serve as synthetic myelin for damaged axons. Myelin is an insulating layer that surrounds axons and allows electrical impulses to move efficiently between neurons.
In multiple sclerosis, neurons lose myelin. There is no biological way to regenerate them. Wearable devices may help restore nerve function in patients with similar diagnoses.
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Source: Gazeta
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