| Abstract Scope |
Sensors and actuators are fundamental building blocks of next-generation human-machine interfaces. This talk presents our recent efforts to establish closed-loop, bidirectional communication and feedback within living systems, with an emphasis on the chemical dimension. The first part of the talk introduces a novel class of flexible, miniaturized probes inspired by biofuel cells for monitoring synaptic release of glutamate in the central nervous system. The resulting sensors can detect real-time changes in glutamate within the biologically relevant concentration range. These advances could aid in basic neuroscience studies and translational engineering, as the sensors provide a diagnostic tool for neurological disorders. The second part of the talk presents our recent work on a bio-integrated gustatory interface, “e-Taste,” which addresses the underrepresented chemical dimension in current VR/AR technologies. This system facilitates remote perception and replication of taste sensations through the coupling of physically separated sensors and actuators with wireless communication modules. |