The microfluidic ion pump: a new tool for understanding the brain

生物学的语言主要是化学的。细胞和组织使用各种化学物质来交流和控制基本功能。一种特定的化学物质的作用会随着地点、时间和浓度的不同而变化，就像一个给定的单词的意思会随着上下文而变化一样。然而，科学家们缺乏一种工具，可以在不造成重大损害的情况下，将一定量的化学物质送到组织内的精确位置。当涉及到与大脑的接口时，这一点尤其正确，因为植入物很容易破坏作为研究对象的细胞和组织。缺乏一种微创的化学物质在大脑中传递的工具限制了我们理解我们最复杂器官的能力。对于这个问题，我提出了一个创新的解决方案：一种具有类似神经元特征的微小植入物，神经科学家可以使用它来安全地将各种化学物质输送到大脑中，并精确控制输送的时间、地点和数量。这种被称为微流体离子泵的装置的工作原理是利用一个小电场将化学物质从内部的微流体储存器中通过离子导电膜推到周围的组织中。这些设备将按照神经元的形象设计，这些神经元具有感知和传递化学物质的能力，其结构特征和机械性能与神经组织相当。通过模仿神经组织，植入物将限制植入过程中造成的损害，并将减轻人体对外来植入物的标准防御机制。这将使这种装置能够长期植入动物模型的大脑，同时为科学家提供一种精确控制重要化学物质局部输送的方法。这个工具的实现将使人们能够发现大脑是如何工作的，以及当它出错时我们可以做些什么。由于化学信号是从动物到植物再到细菌的所有生命系统的基础，这些相同的研究工具最终将适用于其他系统，以实现影响从农业到医疗保健等所有生活方式的基础发现。

The language of biology is primarily chemical. Cells and tissues use a variety of chemicals to communicate and to control basic functions. The effect of a given chemical can vary depending on location, timing and concentration just as the meaning of a given word can change depending on context. Nonetheless, scientists lack tools that can send controlled amounts of chemicals to precise locations within tissues without causing significant damage. This is particularly true when it comes to interfacing with the brain as implants can easily destroy the very cells and tissue that are the subject of study. The absence of a minimally invasive tool for chemical delivery in the brain constrains our ability to understand our most complex organ. I propose an innovative solution to this problem: a tiny implant with neuron-like features that neuroscientists can use to safely deliver a wide range of chemicals in the brain with precise control of when, where, and how much chemical is delivered. The device known as the microfluidic ion pump works by using a small electric field to push chemicals from an internal microfluidic reservoir across an ion conducting membrane out to the surrounding tissue. These devices will be designed in the image of neurons with the ability to sense and deliver chemicals along with structural features and mechanical properties on par with nerve tissue. By mimicking nerve tissue, the implants will limit the damage caused during implantation and will mitigate the body's standard defence mechanism against foreign implants. This will enable the devices to be implanted in the brain of animal models for extended periods of time all the while providing scientists with a means to precisely control the local delivery of important chemicals. The realization of this tool will enable new discoveries concerning how the brain works and what we can be done when it goes wrong. As chemical signalling is fundamental to all living systems from animals to plants to bacteria, these same research tools will eventually be adapted to other systems to enable fundamental discoveries impacting all manners of life from agriculture to healthcare.