Artificial Hair Cell Sensor Based on Nanofiber-Reinforced Thin Metal Films

Abstract

Engineering artificial mechanosensory hair cells offers a promising avenue for developing diverse biosensors spanning applications from biomedicine to underwater sensing. Unfortunately, current artificial sensory hair cells do not have the ability to simultaneously achieve ultrahigh sensitivity with low-frequency threshold detection (e.g., 0.1 Hz). This work aimed to solve this gap by developing an artificial sensory hair cell inspired by the vestibular sensory apparatus, which has such functional capabilities. For device characterization and response testing, the sensory unit was inserted in a 3D printed lateral semicircular canal (LSCC) mimicking the environment of the labyrinth. The sensor was fabricated based on platinum (Pt) thin film which was reinforced by carbon nanofibers (CNFs). A Pi-shaped hair cell sensor was created as the sensing element which was tested under various conditions of simulated head motion. Results reveal the hair cell sensor displayed markedly higher sensitivity compared to other reported artificial hair cell sensors (e.g., 21.47 mV Hz−1 at 60°) and low frequency detection capability, 0.1 Hz < f < 1.5 Hz. Moreover, like the LSCC hair cells in biology, the fabricated sensor was most sensitive in a given plane of rotational motion, demonstrating features of directional sensitivity.

Exploring the Potentials of Wearable Technologies in Managing Vestibular Hypofunction

“…Sensor fusion, consisting of multiple sensors, can be used to overcome the limitations of using a single sensor. (C) Supportive Technologies for Seamless Integration of Artificial Hair Cells with the Inner Ear: Even though studies like [8] have developed biomimetic hair cells capable of detecting low-frequency movements with high sensitivity, the challenge still remains integrating these sensors into the extracellular environment of the inner ear. This opens up several research opportunities on supportive technologies that could assist with the seamless integration of artificial hair cells with the inner ear; below are some potential areas:…”