Modulating synaptic plasticity with metal−organic framework for information-filterable artificial retina

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 16; no. 1; pp. 162 - 10
• Main Authors: Kim, Seongchan, Kwon, Ohchan, Kim, Seonkwon, Jang, Seonmin, Yu, Seungho, Lee, Choong Hoo, Choi, Yoon Young, Cho, Soo Young, Kim, Ki Chul, Yu, Cunjiang, Kim, Dae Woo, Cho, Jeong Ho
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 02.01.2025; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 639/301/1005/1007; 639/766/1130/2798; 639/925/357/995; Affinity; Artificial intelligence; Attention; Data processing; Filterability; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Information processing; Information systems; Metal-organic frameworks; Metal-Organic Frameworks - chemistry; multidisciplinary; Neural prostheses; Neuronal Plasticity; Perception; Pores; Prosthetics; Retina; Retina - physiology; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Sensory integration; Signal processing; Synapses; Synapses - physiology; Synaptic plasticity; Synaptic strength; Visual Prosthesis; Zirconium
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-55173-2

Neuroprosthetics equipped with artificial synapses hold promise to address some most intricate medical problems, such as human sensory disorders. Yet, it is necessitated and of paramount importance for neuroprosthetics to be able to differentiate significant and insignificant signals. Here, we present an information-filterable artificial retina system that integrates artificial synapses with a signal-integration device for signal perception and processing with attention. The synaptic weight modulation is rendered through metal–organic framework (MOF) layers, where distinct short-term and long-term properties are predominantly determined by MOF’s pore diameter and functionality. Specifically, four types of isoreticular Zr-based MOFs that share Zr 6 O 4 (OH) 4 secondary building units have been systematically examined. It is demonstrated that small pore diameters enhance short-term properties, while large pores, which are characterized by increased ion affinity, sustain long-term properties. Moreover, we demonstrated a 6 × 6 pixel artificial retina by incorporating both short-term and long-term artificial synapses with a signal-integration device. Signal summation by the signal-integration device enables attention-based information processing. The information-filterable artificial retina system developed here emulates human perception processes and holds promise in the fields of neuroprosthetics and advanced artificial intelligence. The authors demonstrate an information-filterable artificial retina system for signal perception and processing with attention, using metal-organic framework-based artificial synapses. They show enhanced short-term properties with small pores and long-term properties sustained by large pores and high ion affinity.