BIOSPYTRONICS

Nerve-chip link closer
Although human-machine hybrids are likely to remain in the realm of science fiction for decades, researchers are beginning to meld tissue and technology at the cellular level.
University of Texas at Austin researchers have taken a step toward cell-semiconductor communications by soldering semiconductors to nerve cells. They modified a peptide molecule so one side bound to a human neuron protein and the other to a microscopic particle of semiconductor.
The peptide solder brings the particle to within 20 nanometers of the cell membrane, which is closer than previous methods. Although it may be difficult to get them together, nerve cells and electrical components do have something in common -- they both communicate using electrical signals.
Nerve-semiconductor links could eventually be used to allow nerves to directly control prosthetics, to detect tiny amounts of cell toxins, as nerve-cell memory devices, and as probes to study internal electro-chemical reactions in cells. -TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH NEWS