Groundbreaking!
Prof. Wei Ma’s Team at Xi’an Jiaotong University
Develops Chemically Modulated Artificial Nerves,
Published in Nature Electronics!
This Research Holds Major Scientific Value
in Organic Semiconductors & Emerging Neuroelectronics,
Offering New Avenues for Brain-Computer Interfaces
and Neurological Disease Therapies.
Background
Recent advances in brain science, regenerative medicine, and artificial intelligence have propelled technologies like neural repair and brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) from concept to reality. Artificial nerves, critical for clinical neural repair and BCIs, must amplify, memorize, integrate, and transmit weak, high-frequency biological signals (up to 1 kHz, below 50 mV). This demands rapid response, high amplification, biocompatibility, and chemical modulated sensing-processing-memory functions. Traditional silicon-based circuits, despite their high performance, lack sensitivity to biochemical signals (e.g., neurotransmitters), cannot achieve chemical modulation, and face challenges such as structural rigidity, poor biocompatibility, and unstable interfacing with soft tissues.
Research Content
To address these challenges, a research team led by Professor Wei Ma from the National Key Laboratory for Mechanical Behavior of Metal Materials at Xi’an Jiaotong University developed a novel artificial nerve based on a gradient-intermixed bicontinuous structure (GIBS) in vertical organic electrochemical transistors (v-OECTs). The work, published in Nature Electronics, demonstrates biocompatible and chemically modulate high-performance artificial nerves.
Research Achievements
The GIBS features vertically aligned polymer semiconductor channels sequentially coated with biocompatible ion conductors capable of molecular doping. This design enables continuous high-speed electron/ion transport pathways and n-type doping, resolving the long-standing challenge of simultaneous efficient charge and ion transport. GIBS also suppresses ion conductor-induced damage to the polymer’s crystalline structure, provides high ion extraction barriers for long-term ion storage, and ensures stable conductivity memory. Additionally, the upper ion conductor layer promotes cell growth, creating a biocompatible neural interface.
Figure 1 | (a) Structural components and functional correspondence between biological nerves and artificial nerves; (b) Schematic illustration of the gradient-intermixed bicontinuous structure (GIBS); (c) Performance comparison between v-OECTs with GIBS and other reported OECTs; (d) Restoration of conditioned reflex capability in nerve-injured mice using the artificial nerve.
Performance Highlights：The GIBS-based OECT achieves record-breaking performance for n-type OECTs:
Ultrahigh transconductance and rapid response.
Multimodal sensing (light, electricity, chemicals) with high sensitivity.
High voltage amplification capability
(gain=248 V/V) and cutoff frequency (1.5 kHz).
Synapse-like high-frequency conductance switching (100 kHz) and long-term memory.
Research Significance
The homogeneous integration of sensing, processing, and memory functions enables the artificial nerve to operate at frequencies exceeding 250 Hz under calcium ion-mediated chemical regulation, covering all known biological neural refresh rates. In vivo implantation restored conditioned reflex capabilities in mice with impaired neural function. This breakthrough holds significant potential for BCIs and treating neurological disorders, particularly spinal cord and peripheral nerve injuries.
Research Achievements
Title: A high-frequency artificial nerve based on homogeneously integrated organic electrochemical transistors
Journal: Nature Electronics
Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41928-025-01357-7
Authors
Shijie Wang (first author, Xi’an Jiaotong University)
Wei Ma, Chao Zhao, and Bingjun Wang (corresponding authors).
Collaborators include Yong Han, Gang Bao, Lin Yang, Yuxiang Li, Stephan V. Roth (DESY), Peter Müller-Buschbaum (TUM), and others.
National Natural Science Foundation of China (Key International Collaboration), Youth Student Basic Research Project, and others.
Research Team
Wei Ma, Professor and Vice Dean of the School of Materials Science at Xi’an Jiaotong University, leads the team. A recipient of the National Leading Talents Program (2020) and National Young Talents Program (2015), he directs the Shaanxi Technological Innovation Team (2019).
His research focuses on organic optoelectronics, neuromorphic materials, flexible sensors, nonvolatile memory, and synchrotron X-ray scattering. With over 100 first/corresponding-author papers in journals like Nat. Mater., Nat. Electron., and Adv. Mater. (total citations: >40,000; h-index: 96).
He has received the Shaanxi Natural Science Award (First Prize), China Overseas Chinese Contribution Award, and recognition as a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher (2018–2024).
Sandia National Laboratories and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have highlighted the team’s work as “pivotal for developing bio-neuromorphic sensory-learning circuits” and “promising for BCIs.”
Professor Wei Ma’s Homepage: https://gr.xjtu.edu.cn/web/msewma
