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Related Concept Videos

Channel Rhodopsins01:11

Channel Rhodopsins

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Most organisms use photoreceptors to sense and respond to light. Examples of photoreceptors include bacteriorhodopsins and bacteriophytochromes in some bacteria, phytochromes in plants, and rhodopsins in the photoreceptor cells of the vertebral retina. The light-sensitive property of these receptors is because of the bound chromophores, such as bilin in the phytochromes and retinal in the rhodopsins.
Rhodopsins belong to the family of cell surface proteins called G-protein coupled receptors,...
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A bio-syncretic phototransistor based on optogenetically engineered living cells.

Jia Yang1, Gongxin Li2, Wenxue Wang3

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China; Institutes for Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110169, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.

Biosensors & Bioelectronics
|February 6, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Researchers developed a novel bio-inspired phototransistor using engineered living cells and graphene. This device offers faster response times and improved imaging capabilities for potential use in visual prostheses.

Keywords:
Bio-syncretic sensingChannelrhodopsin-2GrapheneOptogeneticsPhototransistorVisual perception

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Area of Science:

  • Bio-inspired engineering
  • Optogenetics
  • Graphene electronics

Background:

  • Human vision relies on photosensitive receptors.
  • Current bioengineered photodetectors for visual prostheses have limitations like slow response times and poor weak signal detection.
  • There is a need for advanced photodetectors with enhanced biological functionality and biocompatibility.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a human eye-inspired phototransistor.
  • To integrate optogenetically engineered living cells with a graphene-based transistor.
  • To overcome limitations of current bioengineered photodetectors for improved visual prostheses.

Main Methods:

  • Engineered living cells with photosensitive ion channels (channelrhodopsin-2, ChR2) to transduce light into bioelectrical signals.
  • Coupled engineered cells with the graphene layer of a transistor to modulate its output.
  • Constructed an artificial imaging system mimicking human visual pathways.

Main Results:

  • The phototransistor demonstrated a fast response time (~25 ms) and a wider dynamic range.
  • Achieved optical and biological gating with a high on/off ratio (197.5) and responsivity (1.37 mA W⁻¹).
  • Demonstrated the feasibility of imaging using the bioengineered phototransistor in an artificial visual system.

Conclusions:

  • Optogenetically engineered cells can be utilized to create novel visual prostheses.
  • The developed phototransistor shows potential for advanced bio-syncretic sensing devices.
  • This work paves a new avenue for bio-integrated electronic devices for vision restoration.