Bioinspired Nanofluidic Fibers for Neuromorphic Neurotransmitter-Signal Transmission

Abstract

Inspired by the efficient signal transmission in neurons, nanofluidic systems have been developed to emulate memristive or gating effects, showing promising prospects for neuromorphic computing and bioabiotic interfaces. However, the existing devices have failed to integrate these two fundamental neuronal properties within a single device; thus, falling short of simulating the complex and integrated signal transmission and processing of biological neural systems. Here, we demonstrate a nanofluidic memristor (DAb-NM) based on the graphene oxide fibers for neuromorphic neurotransmitter signal transmission. The device features confined nanochannel with its dimension matching with that of transmitted neurotransmitters, inducing intense electrostatic repulsion and concentration polarization. The high interfacial energy barrier for dopamine (DA) ion transport induces hysteretic ion transport that exhibits a memory effect of paired-pulse facilitation (PPF), and a gating effect which necessitates charge accumulation to open the channel. By integrating memristive and gating effects within a single device, the nanofluidic device not only realizes Pavlovian learning capabilities but also enables neuromorphic information processing when interfacing with living systems. This study provides a novel strategy for integrating complex neurotransmitter-based neural features, advancing the development of intelligent biohybrid interfaces.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

Nanofluidic fibers / Confined nanochannel / Neurotransmitters / Paired-pulse facilitation / Gating effect

References

[1] Harris JJ, Jolivet R, Attwell D. Synaptic energy use and supply. Neuron, 2012, 75 762

[2] Branco T, Staras K. The probability of neurotransmitter release: variability and feedback control at single synapses. Nat Rev Neurosci, 2009, 10 373

[3] Groves DA, Brown VJ. Vagal nerve stimulation: a review of its applications and potential mechanisms that mediate its clinical effects. Neurosci Biobehav Rev, 2005, 29 493

[4] Li Z, Myers SK, Xiao J, Li Y, Noy N, Leuski A, Noy A. Neuromorphic ionic computing in droplet interface synapses. Sci Adv, 2025, 11 eadv6603

[5] Wang W, Jiang Y, Zhong D, Zhang Z, Choudhury S, Lai J-C, Gong H, Niu S, Yan X, Zheng Y, Shih C-C, Ning R, Lin Q, Li D, Kim Y-H, Kim J, Wang Y-X, Zhao C, Xu C, Ji X, Nishio Y, Lyu H, Tok JB-H, Bao Z. Neuromorphic sensorimotor loop embodied by monolithically integrated, low-voltage, soft e-skin. Science, 2023, 380 735

[6] Lee Y, Park H-L, Kim Y, Lee T-W. Organic electronic synapses with low energy consumption. Joule, 2021, 5 794

[7] Wei H, Shi R, Sun L, Yu H, Gong J, Liu C, Xu Z, Ni Y, Xu J, Xu W. Mimicking efferent nerves using a graphdiyne-based artificial synapse with multiple ion diffusion dynamics. Nat Commun, 2021, 12 1068

[8] He K, Wang C, He Y, Su J, Chen X. Artificial neuron devices. Chem Rev, 2023, 123 13796

[9] Zhao W, Shao F, Sun F, Su Z, Liu S, Zhang T, Zhu M, Liu Z, Zhou X. Neuron-inspired sticky artificial spider silk for signal transmission. Adv Mater, 2023, 35 2300876

[10] Kumar S, Wang X, Strachan JP, Yang Y, Lu WD. Dynamical memristors for higher-complexity neuromorphic computing. Nat Rev Mater, 2022, 7 575

[11] Chen W, Zhai L, Zhang S, Zhao Z, Hu Y, Xiang Y, Liu H, Xu Z, Jiang L, Wen L. Cascade-heterogated biphasic gel iontronics for electronic-to-multi-ionic signal transmission. Science, 2023, 382 559

[12] Sun F, Jiang H, Wang H, Zhong Y, Xu Y, Xing Y, Yu M, Feng L-W, Tang Z, Liu J, Sun H, Wang H, Wang G, Zhu M. Soft fiber electronics based on semiconducting polymer. Chem Rev, 2023, 123: 4693

[13] Liu Y, Song Y, Wu P. Self-evolving hierarchical hydrogel fibers with circadian rhythms and memory functions. Adv Mater, 2024, 36 2404506

[14] Tu J, Torrente‐Rodríguez RM, Wang M, Gao W. The era of digital health: a review of portable and wearable affinity biosensors. Adv Funct Mater, 2019, 30 1906713

[15] Zhang J, Yang T, Tian G, Lan B, Deng W, Tang L, Ao Y, Sun Y, Zeng W, Ren X, Li Z, Jin L, Yang W. Spatially confined MXene/PVDF nanofiber piezoelectric electronics. Adv Fiber Mater, 2023, 6: 133

[16] Xiao J, Zhan H, Wang X, Xu Z-Q, Xiong Z, Zhang K, Simon GP, Liu JZ, Li D. Electrolyte gating in graphene-based supercapacitors and its use for probing nanoconfined charging dynamics. Nat Nanotechnol, 2020, 15: 683

[17] Robin P, Kavokine N, Bocquet L. Modeling of emergent memory and voltage spiking in ionic transport through angstrom-scale slits. Science, 2021, 373: 687

[18] Liu W, Mei T, Cao Z, Li C, Wu Y, Wang L, Xu G, Chen Y, Zhou Y, Wang S, Xue Y, Yu Y, Kong X-Y, Chen R, Tu B, Xiao K. Bioinspired carbon nanotube–based nanofluidic ionic transistor with ultrahigh switching capabilities for logic circuits. Sci Adv, 2024, 10 eadj7867

[19] Du H, Chen W, Kong XY, Wen L. 2D carbon material-based bio-abiotic interfaces. Small Methods, 2025, 9 2500662

[20] Li L, Chen W, Kong X-Y, Wen L. Nanofluidic neuromorphic iontronics: a nexus for biological signal transduction. Iontronics, 2026, 2 4

[21] Li C, Chen C, Shi J, Han W, Fu Q, Yang L. Biomimetic action- potential transmission via mechano- gated potassium channels assembled by quadruple hydrogen- bonded crown ethers. Sci Adv, 2026, 12 eaea6329

[22] Peng L, Xu Z, Liu Z, Wei Y, Sun H, Li Z, Zhao X, Gao C. An iron-based green approach to 1-h production of single-layer graphene oxide. Nat Commun, 2015, 6: 5716

[23] Radha B, Esfandiar A, Wang FC, Rooney AP, Gopinadhan K, Keerthi A, Mishchenko A, Janardanan A, Blake P, Fumagalli L, Lozada-Hidalgo M, Garaj S, Haigh SJ, Grigorieva IV, Wu HA, Geim AK. Molecular transport through capillaries made with atomic-scale precision. Nature, 2016, 538: 222

[24] Novoselov KS, Geim AK, Morozov SV, Jiang D, Zhang Y, Dubonos SV, Grigorieva IV, Firsov AA. Electric field effect in atomically thin carbon films. Science, 2004, 306: 666

[25] Albarran E, Sun Y, Liu Y, Raju K, Dong A, Li Y, Wang S, Sudhof TC, Ding JB. Postsynaptic synucleins mediate endocannabinoid signaling. Nat Neurosci, 2023, 26: 997

[26] Uezu A, Kanak DJ, Bradshaw TWA, Soderblom EJ, Catavero CM, Burette AC, Weinberg RJ, Soderling SH. Identification of an elaborate complex mediating postsynaptic inhibition. Science, 2016, 353: 1123

[27] Mouterde T, Keerthi A, Poggioli AR, Dar SA, Siria A, Geim AK, Bocquet L, Radha B. Molecular streaming and its voltage control in ångström-scale channels. Nature, 2019, 567: 87

[28] Yoshida H, Kaiser V, Rotenberg B, Bocquet L. Dripplons as localized and superfast ripples of water confined between graphene sheets. Nat Commun, 2018, 9: 1496

[29] Park H, Lee KH, Kim YB, Ambade SB, Noh SH, Eom W, Hwang JY, Lee WJ, Huang J, Han TH. Dynamic assembly of liquid crystalline graphene oxide gel fibers for ion transport. Sci Adv, 2018, 4 eaau2104

[30] Jain K, Berman GJ. Opening the black box of social behavior. Nat Neurosci, 2019, 22: 1947

[31] Shinohara H, Wang F, Hossain SM. A convenient, high-throughput method for enzyme-luminescence detection of dopamine released from PC12 cells. Nat Protoc, 2008, 3: 1639

[32] Li BR, Hsieh YJ, Chen YX, Chung YT, Pan CY, Chen YT. An ultrasensitive nanowire-transistor biosensor for detecting dopamine release from living PC12 cells under hypoxic stimulation. J Am Chem Soc, 2013, 135: 16034

[33] Wu W-Z, Huang W-H, Wang W, Wang Z-L, Cheng I-K, Xu T, Zhang R-Y, Chen Y, Liu J. Monitoring dopamine release from single living vesicles with nanoelectrodes. J Am Chem Soc, 2005, 127: 8914

[34] Lee O, Wei T, Stenning KD, Gartside JC, Prestwood D, Seki S, Aqeel A, Karube K, Kanazawa N, Taguchi Y, Back C, Tokura Y, Branford WR, Kurebayashi H. Task-adaptive physical reservoir computing. Nat Mater, 2024, 23: 79

[35] Liang X, Tang J, Zhong Y, Gao B, Qian H, Wu H. Physical reservoir computing with emerging electronics. Nat Electron, 2024, 7: 193

[36] Chang D, Liu J, Fang B, Xu Z, Li Z, Liu Y, Brassart L, Guo F, Gao W, Gao C. Reversible fusion and fission of graphene oxide-based fibers. Science, 2021, 372: 614

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China(22402077)

Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(E5A9Q10201)

Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Program(JCYJ20240813100801003)

China Association for Science and Technology(2024-2026QNRC001)

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Donghua University, Shanghai, China

Just Accepted

This article has successfully passed peer review and final editorial review, and will soon enter typesetting, proofreading and other publishing processes. The currently displayed version is the accepted final manuscript. The officially published version will be updated with format, DOI and citation information upon launch. We recommend that you pay attention to subsequent journal notifications and preferentially cite the officially published version. Thank you for your support and cooperation.