Scientists develop 3D electronic chip that simultaneously measures neural and inflammatory signals

Scientists have developed a three-dimensional electronic chip that autonomously conforms to an "artificial mini spinal cord" using body heat alone, enabling real-time simultaneous measurement of electrical activity in the nervous system and inflammatory responses.

The chip can precisely track disease progression and drug effects without destroying the organoid, a capability expected to accelerate next-generation precision medicine research.

The Korea Brain Research Institute (KBRI) announced that a joint research team — comprising Chu Nam-sun of KBRI's Emotional and Cognitive Disease Research Group, Shin Hyo-geun, a professor at Kyungpook National University, and Lee Ju-hyun of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) — has developed a "3D folding bioelectronic interface" platform. The platform self-folds to match the curved surface of a three-dimensional human spinal cord organoid and simultaneously measures neural signals and inflammatory cytokines.

The findings were published in the latest issue of Biosensors and Bioelectronics, a leading international journal in biosensor research.

Research into organoids — three-dimensional miniature artificial organs that replicate the development and diseases of the human nervous system in a laboratory setting — has been growing rapidly in recent years. Neuroinflammation is a complex phenomenon involving both changes in cytokines, which regulate immune responses, and shifts in the electrical activity of nerve cells; simultaneously measuring both signals is central to understanding disease mechanisms. Existing analytical methods required organoids to be fixed or dissected, making continuous observation impossible, while flat-plane electrodes could not conform closely to the curved surfaces of three-dimensional organoids, limiting measurement precision.

The research team addressed these challenges by using a shape memory polymer (SMP), a material that becomes mechanically softer and changes shape at normal human body temperature.

The platform is engineered to reduce its mechanical stiffness at physiological temperatures of 36 to 37 degrees Celsius, allowing it to wrap naturally around the surface of a three-dimensional organoid without strong external pressure.

The 3D bioelectronic interface enables continuous, non-invasive monitoring of complex biosignals without damaging the artificial organ, significantly improving precision in neuroinflammatory disease pathophysiology research and drug screening. It allows researchers to analyze more precisely how changes in inflammatory cytokines affect neural network function in neuroinflammatory disease models, and is expected to find applications in studying the pathophysiology of neurological diseases and evaluating drug responses.

"This 3D electronic chip goes beyond the limitations of conventional analysis methods, enabling non-invasive, real-time tracking of biosignals from organoids," Chu said. "We will continue follow-up research aimed at developing treatments for intractable neurological diseases based on spinal cord and brain organoids, and at building a precision medicine platform."

The findings were published in the latest issue of Biosensors and Bioelectronics, a leading international journal in biosensor research.