A flexible biohybrid reflex arc mimicking neurotransmitter transmission

The simulation of neurotransmitter transmission in the biological nervous system holds great potential for the next generation of implantable neurological devices. Two challenges are (1) the fabrication of synaptic devices with selectivity to neurotransmitters in artificial reflex arcs and (2) the direct construction of biocompatible interfaces between biological tissues and devices to form biofeedback. Herein, we report the construction of a flexible biohybrid artificial motor biofeedback inspired by neuromuscular transmission of acetylcholine (ACh). Biocompatible interfaces are built by seeding biological cells on the gate of the organic synapse. The ACh secreted from rat adrenal pheochromocytoma (PC-12) cells is converted by the organic synapse into electrical signals to modulate the excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) to drive the soft actuator. This reflex arc enables memory consolidation on exposure to ACh, exhibiting both short-term plasticity and specificity. This method may provide a way for nerve repair and development of neural prosthetics and facilitate human-machine interfaces. [Display omitted] •The organic synaptic device exhibits ACh-mediated plasticity with high selectivity•PC-12 cells act as the presynaptic membrane in the artificial neuromuscular junction•The reflex arc converts biological signals into movement of the actuator A flexible biohybrid reflex arc system is constructed by Shao et al. to mimic biological neuromuscular information transmission. The device converts chemical signals of ACh secreted by PC-12 cells into electrical signals, and the resulting excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) of the organic synaptic transistor are amplified to drive the movement of artificial muscle.