NSF EAGER: Ionic communication: high resolution, non-invasive data communication for bioelectronics

从身体内部发送和接收信息的能力对科学和医学应用至关重要。几乎所有的植入式电子设备都需要与外部世界进行通信，以便能够传输获得的生物信号进行分析，或者接收来自外部设备的指令来调节它们与组织的相互作用。然而，这项任务本身就具有挑战性，因为通信方法应该是(i)非侵入性的，这意味着没有组件通过组织挤出；（ii）低功耗，能够在较长时间内连续获取数据；（iii）高速，允许传输所获取的复杂生物数据；（iv）可控，允许在组织中的特定深度进行通信。这项工作的总体目标是开发一种基于离子的高速通信方案，使信号的非侵入性和安全传输成为可能，而不需要通过组织挤压的组件。这项工作的基本原理是，生物组织中的离子可以用来将信息以高速和低功率传输到体外。该项目的教育目标是通过开发完全生物兼容和廉价的离子通信设备，为学生提供实践经验。预计此次研究不仅将通过提高对控制全身通信的关键原理的理解，推动生物电子学领域的发展，而且还将对整个社会产生积极影响。为了理解和调节生理功能，植入式生物电子设备应该能够以高速、低功耗的方式安全地将高时空分辨率的生物信号传递给体外的设备。这种通信和数据传输应通过无创路径完成，不需要任何元件穿过组织，以最大限度地减少不适、活动并发症以及组织损伤或感染的风险。离子通信利用生物组织富含离子的特性，通过完整的表面传输信号，可以满足这些要求，并解决当前基于电子电荷载流子的方法的局限性。然而，关于如何利用离子通信在生物组织中建立高速、低功耗和生物相容性的通信介质，显然缺乏知识。提出的研究目标是结合非生物/生物传输接口的最佳特性：生物相容性，一致性，小型化，低功耗，与身体离子信号的有效相互作用，以及以与电生理过程相关的速度传输数据的能力。该项目的具体目标是：(1)建立实现离子通信的物理、材料和几何要求；(2)定义控制离子信号在组织中空间传播的物理参数。总的来说，离子通信可以通过简化生物电子设备的数据传输并使其应用于禁止使用经皮连接器或大型植入电子设备的情况，从而产生重大的医疗和社会效益。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The ability to send and receive information from inside the body is of key importance for scientific and medical applications. Nearly all implantable electronics devices require communication with the external world to be able to transmit acquired bio-signals for analysis or receive instructions from external devices to modulate their interactions with tissue. However, this task is inherently challenging because the communication method should be (i) non-invasive, meaning no components extruding through tissue, (ii) low-power, to be able to acquire data continuously over an extended period of time (iii) high-speed, to allow transmission of complex biological data acquired, (iv) controllable, to allow communication over a defined depth in the tissue. The overall objective of this work is to develop an ion-based, high-speed communication scheme to enable non-invasive and safe transmission of signals without the need of components that extrude through tissue. The rationale for the proposed work is that ions in biological tissue can be used to transfer information at high speeds and low power to the outside of body. The educational goal of the project is to provide hands-on experience for students by developing fully bio-compatible and inexpensive devices for ionic communication. The proposed research is expected to not only advance the field of bioelectronics by improving understanding of key principles governing communication across the body, but also result in positive impact to society at large. To understand and modulate physiologic functions, implantable bioelectronic devices should be capable of safely communicating the high spatiotemporal resolution bio-signals with high speed and low power consumption to devices located outside the body. This communication and data transfer should be accomplished through a non-invasive path with no elements that extrude through tissue to minimize discomfort, mobility complications, and risk of tissue damage or infection. Ionic communication, which leverages the ion-rich nature of biological tissue to transmit signals through intact surfaces, could fulfill these requirements and address the limitations of current electronic charge carrier-based approaches. However, there is a clear lack of knowledge regarding how to use ionic communication to establish a high speed, low-power, and biocompatible communication medium across biological tissue. The objective of the proposed research is to combine optimal properties for an abiotic/biotic transmission interface: biocompatibility, conformability, miniaturization, low power consumption, efficient interaction with the body’s ionic signals, and ability to transmit data at speeds relevant to electrophysiological processes. Specific aims for the project are: (1) establish the physical, material and geometrical requirements to enable ionic communication; and (2) define the physical parameters that govern the spatial propagation of ionic signals through tissue. Overall, ionic communication could result in significant medical and social benefits by simplifying data transmission from bioelectronic devices and enabling application to situations in which use of transcutaneous connectors or bulky implanted electronics is prohibitive.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.