Scientists Engineer Biological Nanoprocessors Capable of Brain-Like Learning

3 hours ago7 min read1 comments

In a landmark discovery that merges the principles of biology with computer engineering, researchers at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) have decoded the operational logic of biological nanopores. These protein-based channels, essential to cellular function and biotech applications, were once notorious for their unpredictable performance.The research team, using engineered bacterial aerolysin pores, has now demystified this behavior by revealing the exact physical mechanisms controlling ion rectification (directional flow) and molecular gating (on/off switching). The key finding is that these processes are not erratic malfunctions but are precisely regulated by the dynamic interplay of the pore's internal electrical charges with passing ions.This breakthrough provides a new foundational framework for the field of iontronics. Building on this fundamental insight, the EPFL team achieved a synthetic biology tour de force: they designed and constructed custom nanopores capable of neuromorphic learning.These engineered biological circuits can adapt their ionic flow based on prior electrical stimulation, effectively demonstrating a form of synaptic plasticity—the core mechanism for memory and learning in the brain. This paves the way for a future generation of biocompatible computers.Instead of relying on traditional silicon-based electronics, these systems would use ultra-efficient ion currents flowing through protein nanopores. The potential applications are transformative, enabling the development of bio-inspired neuromorphic computers that operate with minimal energy, rivaling the efficiency of the human brain.This technology could revolutionize artificial intelligence, advanced medical diagnostics, and smart drug delivery systems that learn and adapt to a patient's specific physiological conditions. By demonstrating that cognitive principles can be engineered into simple biological molecules, this research marks a pivotal step toward a new era of intelligent, ion-based computing.

#featured

#bacterial nanopores

#brain-like learning

#bio-inspired computing

#ion-based processors

#EPFL research

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