Interfacing Live Cells with Artificial Membranes: Synchronization in a Coupled Nonlinear System

该奖项的研究目标是探索内耳毛细胞之间运动的同步性，以及它在机械检测总体灵敏度中的作用。PI将创建一个杂交系统，在该系统中，包含活细胞和功能细胞的生物制剂与人造聚合物膜接口。这将使直接测量振荡细胞之间同步的开始和动态成为可能。不同材料性能的聚合物膜将用于允许细胞间连接强度的变化，其大小将不同，以耦合不同数量的元件。还将引入模拟毛细胞神经控制作用的电子电路。电压信号将与机械灵敏度测量一起应用于感觉上皮，反馈电路将使制剂的响应性最大化。混合制剂将提供一个系统，其中耦合和适应行为可以独立变化，因此这两个重要因素的作用可以被定量评估。听觉系统对纳米级检测的敏感性仍然没有得到充分的解释，这些实验旨在识别我们理解其潜在机制中缺失的成分。该项目是朝着构建能够复制耳蜗行为的生物模拟装置迈出的第一步，长期目标是创造一种可植入的人造机械传感器。PI的教育努力旨在通过在课程中引入新课程、本科生研究计划和跨部门讨论论坛，培训研究生和本科生在物理、工程和生物之间的技术。

The research objective of this award is to explore synchronization of motion among hair cells of the inner ear, and its role in the overall sensitivity of mechanical detection. The PI will create a hybrid system, in which a biological preparation containing live and functional cells is interfaced with artificial polymer membranes. This will enable direct measurements of the onset and dynamics of synchronization between oscillatory cells. Polymer membranes of different material properties will be used to allow variation in the strength of inter-cell connections, and their sizes will be varied so as to couple different numbers of elements. Electronic circuits will also be introduced that mimic the role of neural control of hair cells. Voltage signals will be applied across the sensory epithelium in conjunction with the mechanical sensitivity measurements, and a feedback circuit will maximize the responsiveness of the preparation. The hybrid preparation will provide a system in which coupling and adaptive behavior can be independently varied, and hence the role of these two important elements can be quantitatively assessed. Nanoscale sensitivity of detection by the auditory system has still not been fully explained, and these experiments are designed to identify the missing components in our understanding of its underlying mechanisms. The project constitutes the first step towards the construction of a bio-mimetic device that can replicate the behavior of the cochlea, with the long-term goal of creating an implantable artificial mechanical sensor. The educational efforts of the PI aim to train graduate and undergraduate students in techniques at the interface of physics, engineering, and biology, via new courses introduced into the curriculum, undergraduate research programs, and an inter-departmental discussion forum.