Surface plasmon resonance-based chemical sensor mountable on a neural probe

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K20404
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0301:Mechanics of materials, production engineering, design engineering, fluid engineering, thermal engineering, mechanical dynamics, robotics, aerospace engineering, marine and maritime engineering, and related fields
• Research Institution: The University of Electro-Communications
• Principal Investigator: Oshita Masaaki 電気通信大学, 大学院情報理工学研究科, 助教 (10964025)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-08-31 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 表面プラズモン共鳴 / ショットキー障壁 / 神経プローブ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we have developed a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) chemical sensor that can be implanted in the brain, with the aim of wirelessly measuring neurotransmitters. Conventional electrochemical measurement methods have the problem that they cannot measure neuropeptides such as oxytocin at low concentrations, but SPR sensors overcome this detection limit. On the other hand, conventional SPR sensors are difficult to implant in the brain due to bulky elements such as prisms. In this study, we have developed a prototype of a sensor that uses a diffraction grating to flatten the sensor and electrically detects SPR using a semiconductor junction.

Free Research Field

ナノマイクロ工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、神経伝達物質の無線装置上での計測を目指した脳内に埋め込み可能な表面プラズモン共鳴（SPR）型化学量センサの基礎原理を実証した。従来の電気化学測定法では低濃度の神経ペプチド計測が困難だったが、本方式のSPR型センサは高感度かつ埋め込み可能であり、動物の自由な行動を妨げずに脳神経活動を計測できると見込まれている。この技術により、複数の動物が関与する社会的相互作用と脳機能の関係解明が進展し、脳科学研究に大きな貢献が期待される。