Ugo Bruno

Center for Advanced Biomaterials for Healthcare

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Francesca Santoro

Forschungszentrum Jülich

Chiara Ausilio

Center for Advanced Biomaterials for Healthcare

Ottavia Bettucci

University of Milano-Bicocca

Claudia Lubrano

Forschungszentrum Jülich

Federica Corrado

Forschungszentrum Jülich

Anna Mariano

Italian Institute of Technology

Valeria Criscuolo

RWTH Aachen University

Mirko Prato

Italian Institute of Technology

Antonio Carella

University of Naples Federico II

Daniela Rana

Forschungszentrum Jülich

Cooperative Institutions

University of Naples Federico II

Italian Institute of Technology

Center for Advanced Biomaterials for Healthcare

Forschungszentrum Jülich

RWTH Aachen University

Institute of Food Science

Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Napoli

University of Milano-Bicocca

National Research Council

Federico II University Hospital

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Electrical and Optical Modulation of a PEDOT:PSS‐Based Electrochemical Transistor for Multiple Neurotransmitter‐Mediated Artificial Synapses

Advanced Materials Technologies (2023)

Giovanni Maria Matrone Ugo Bruno Csaba Forró Claudia Lubrano Stefano Cinti

Abstract Neuromorphic systems that display synaptic conditioning based on biochemical signaling activity have recently been introduced in the form of artificial synapses that are model devices to develop tissue‐interfaced platforms. In this regard, biohybrid synapses promise adaptive neuron‐integrated functions. However, these systems suffer from both molecular cross‐talk as biological neural circuits signal transmission typically involves more than one neuromodulator, and unstable electronics wirings as complex architectures are required to interface the tissues. Moreover, whilst novel spiking circuits can work as artificial neurons, they only recreate the biological electrical signaling pathway while electrochemical signal transduction is required for inter‐neuron communication. As such, artificial chemically‐mediated synapses are essential to perform memory/learning computing functions. Herein, an electrochemical neuromorphic organic device (ENODe) working as an artificial synapse that overcomes electrochemical and readout interferences while it emulates two neurotransmitters synaptic weight modulation and their recycling machinery at the synaptic cleft is shown. Neuronal short‐ and long‐term plasticity are replicated by transducing two separate neurotransmitter‐mediated chemical signals into reversible and nonreversible variations of PEDOT:PSS conductance. By exploiting the electrochromic properties of PEDOT:PSS, an alternative optical monitoring strategy is introduced which promises stable multidevice readout from complex bio‐hybrid interfaces. The platform emulates high‐order biological processes such as intrinsic forgetting, memory consolidation, and neurotransmitter co‐modulation. These brain‐inspired functionalities herald the development of tissue‐integrated neuromorphic systems that combine spiking (electrical neurons) and nonspiking (electrochemical synapses) elements, thus envisioning prosthetic bridges for neural engineering and regenerative medicine.

Neuromorphic engineering

Biological neural network

10.1002/admt.202201911

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Citations (17)

Fully organic neuromorphic OPECT for light-controlled memories in brain-inspired learning and computation applications

Ugo Bruno Federica Corrado Ottavia Bettucci Francesca Santoro

Neuromorphic engineering

10.29363/nanoge.neumatdecas.2023.020

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Citations (0)

Advances in Cell-Conductive Polymer Biointerfaces and Role of the Plasma Membrane

Chemical Reviews (2021)

Anna Mariano Claudia Lubrano Ugo Bruno Chiara Ausilio Nikita Bhupesh Dinger

The plasma membrane (PM) is often described as a wall, a physical barrier separating the cell cytoplasm from the extracellular matrix (ECM). Yet, this wall is a highly dynamic structure that can stretch, bend, and bud, allowing cells to respond and adapt to their surrounding environment. Inspired by shapes and geometries found in the biological world and exploiting the intrinsic properties of conductive polymers (CPs), several biomimetic strategies based on substrate dimensionality have been tailored in order to optimize the cell-chip coupling. Furthermore, device biofunctionalization through the use of ECM proteins or lipid bilayers have proven successful approaches to further maximize interfacial interactions. As the bio-electronic field aims at narrowing the gap between the electronic and the biological world, the possibility of effectively disguising conductive materials to "trick" cells to recognize artificial devices as part of their biological environment is a promising approach on the road to the seamless platform integration with cells.

10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00363

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Citations (52)

A project of fitness telemonitoring in an information technology course

Ambrosino Michele Pasquale Arpaïa Astarita Davide Francesco Bonavolontà Ugo Bruno

A tele-monitoring system, based on a soft transducer network, developed by students of the Course "Measurements on Communications Network" (MRC), at the Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, University of Naples Federico II, is presented. This project is the result of an innovative education approach for (i) overcoming specialization of single Courses on different aspects of advanced tele-monitoring and (ii) experimenting integrated design approach in a realistic environment. Therefore, the Course emulates the creation of a start up, MRC 2017 Ltd, where the students act like junior designers supervised by the teachers as Project Leaders and senior consultants. MRC 2017 Ltd receives an order from an actual customer, Del Bo Consortium, and leverages the project developments by actual industrial partners, STMicroelectronics for embedded solutions, and Nexus-tlc for software platform of Internet of Things.

Course (navigation)

10.1109/iwmn.2017.8078358

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Two-photon polymerization lithography enabling the fabrication of PEDOT:PSS 3D structures for bioelectronic applications

Chemical Communications (2022)

Amedeo Ruggiero Valeria Criscuolo Sara Grasselli Ugo Bruno Chiara Ausilio

In this work, an innovative fabrication method for the realization of PEDOT:PSS-based conductive micropillars and 3D cage-like structures is presented, combining 2-photon lithography and electrodeposition techniques.

Realization (probability)

Two-photon excitation microscopy

10.1039/d2cc03152c

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Citations (18)

Concealing Organic Neuromorphic Devices with Neuronal‐Inspired Supported Lipid Bilayers

Advanced Science (2024)

Chiara Ausilio Claudia Lubrano Daniela Rana Giovanni Maria Matrone Ugo Bruno

Neurohybrid systems have gained large attention for their potential as in vitro and in vivo platform to interrogate and modulate the activity of cells and tissue within nervous system. In this scenario organic neuromorphic devices have been engineered as bioelectronic platforms to resemble characteristic neuronal functions. However, aiming to a functional communication with neuronal cells, material synthesis, and surface engineering can yet be exploited for optimizing bio-recognition processes at the neuromorphic-neuronal hybrid interface. In this work, artificial neuronal-inspired lipid bilayers have been assembled on an electrochemical neuromorphic organic device (ENODe) to resemble post-synaptic structural and functional features of living synapses. Here, synaptic conditioning has been achieved by introducing two neurotransmitter-mediated biochemical signals, to induce an irreversible change in the device conductance thus achieving Pavlovian associative learning. This new class of in vitro devices can be further exploited for assembling hybrid neuronal networks and potentially for in vivo integration within living neuronal tissues.

Neuromorphic engineering

Associative learning

Premovement neuronal activity

Biological neural network

10.1002/advs.202305860

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The Porcine Odorant-Binding Protein as a Probe for an Impedenziometric-Based Detection of Benzene in the Environment

International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2022)

Alessandro Capo Serena Cozzolino Adolfo Cavallari Ugo Bruno Alessia Calabrese

Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are a group of small and soluble proteins present in both vertebrates and insects. They have a high level of structural stability and bind to a large spectrum of odorant molecules. In the environmental field, benzene is the most dangerous compound among the class of pollutants named BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene). It has several effects on human health and, consequently, it appears to be important to monitor its presence in the environment. Commonly, its detection requires the use of very sophisticated and time-consuming analytical techniques (GC-MS, etc.) as well as the presence of specialized personnel. Here, we present the application of an odorant-binding protein (pOBP) isolated from pigs as a molecular recognition element (MRE) for a low-energy impedenziometric biosensor for outdoor and real-time benzene detection. The obtained results show that the biosensor can detect the presence of 64 pM (5 µg/m3) benzene, the limit value of exposure for human health set by the European Directive 2008/50/EC.

BTEX

10.3390/ijms23074039

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Citations (6)

Light-Responsive PEDOT:PSS for optically modulable organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs)

Ottavia Bettucci Federica Corrado Ugo Bruno valeria criscuolo Mirko Prato

10.29363/nanoge.liv-act.2022.010

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A Diagnostic Device for In-Situ Detection of Swine Viral Diseases: The SWINOSTICS Project

Sensors (2019)

Concetta Montagnese Paolo Barattini Alessandro Giusti Gyula Balka Ugo Bruno

In this paper, we present the concept of a novel diagnostic device for on-site analyses, based on the use of advanced bio-sensing and photonics technologies to tackle emerging and endemic viruses causing swine epidemics and significant economic damage in farms. The device is currently under development in the framework of the EU Commission co-funded project. The overall concept behind the project is to develop a method for an early and fast on field detection of selected swine viruses by non-specialized personnel. The technology is able to detect pathogens in different types of biological samples, such as oral fluids, faeces, blood or nasal swabs. The device will allow for an immediate on-site threat assessment. In this work, we present the overall concept of the device, its architecture with the technical requirements, and all the used innovative technologies that contribute to the advancements of the current state of the art.

European commission

Emerging Technologies

10.3390/s19020407

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Citations (16)

Azobenzene-based optoelectronic transistors for neurohybrid building blocks

Nature Communications (2023)

Federica Corrado Ugo Bruno Mirko Prato Antonio Carella Valeria Criscuolo

Exploiting the light-matter interplay to realize advanced light responsive multimodal platforms is an emerging strategy to engineer bioinspired systems such as optoelectronic synaptic devices. However, existing neuroinspired optoelectronic devices rely on complex processing of hybrid materials which often do not exhibit the required features for biological interfacing such as biocompatibility and low Young's modulus. Recently, organic photoelectrochemical transistors (OPECTs) have paved the way towards multimodal devices that can better couple to biological systems benefiting from the characteristics of conjugated polymers. Neurohybrid OPECTs can be designed to optimally interface neuronal systems while resembling typical plasticity-driven processes to create more sophisticated integrated architectures between neuron and neuromorphic ends. Here, an innovative photo-switchable PEDOT:PSS was synthesized and successfully integrated into an OPECT. The OPECT device uses an azobenzene-based organic neuro-hybrid building block to mimic the retina's structure exhibiting the capability to emulate visual pathways. Moreover, dually operating the device with opto- and electrical functions, a light-dependent conditioning and extinction processes were achieved faithful mimicking synaptic neural functions such as short- and long-term plasticity.

Neuromorphic engineering

Interfacing

10.1038/s41467-023-41083-2

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Citations (36)