The electronics surrounding us in our daily lives rely almost exclusively on electrons as the dominant charge carrier. In stark contrast, biological systems rarely use electrons but rather use ions and molecules of varying size. Due to the unique combination of both electronic and ionic/molecular conductivity in conducting and semiconducting organic polymers and small molecules, these materials have emerged in recent decades as excellent tools for translating signals between these two realms and, therefore, providing a means to effectively interface biology with conventional electronics-thus, the field of organic bioelectronics. Today, organic bioelectronics defines a generic platform with unprecedented biological recording and regulation tools and is maturing toward applications ranging from life sciences to the clinic. In this Review, we introduce the field, from its early breakthroughs to its current results and future challenges.
Organic electrochemical transistors are fabricated on a poly(L‐lactide‐co‐glycolide) substrate. Fast and sensitive performance of the transistors allows recording of the electrocardiogram. The result paves the way for new types of bioelectronic interfaces with reduced invasiveness due to bioresorption and soft mechanical properties.
A miniaturized organic electronic ion pump (OEIP) based on conjugated polymers is developed for delivery of positively charged biomolecules. Characterization shows that applied voltage can precisely modulate the delivery rate of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. The capability of the device is demonstrated by convection‐free, spatiotemporally resolved delivery of acetylcholine via a 10 µm channel for dynamic stimulation of single neuronal cells.
We present measurements of the ratio of the proton elastic electromagnetic form factors, p G Ep /G M p . The Jefferson Lab Hall A Focal Plane Polarimeter was used to determine the longitudinal and transverse components of the recoil proton polarization in ep elastic scattering; the ratio of these polarization components is proportional to the ratio of the two form factors. These data reproduce the observation of Jones et al. ͓Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 1398 ͑2000͔͒, that the form factor ratio decreases significantly from unity above Q 2 ϭ1 GeV 2 .
In treating epilepsy, the ideal solution is to act at a seizure's onset, but only in the affected regions of the brain. Here, an organic electronic ion pump is demonstrated, which directly delivers on-demand pure molecules to specific brain regions. State-of-the-art organic devices and classical pharmacology are combined to control pathological activity in vitro, and the results are verified with electrophysiological recordings.
Funding Agencies|European Union [602102]; A*MIDEX [A_M-AAP-ID-13-24-130531-16.31-BERNARD-HLS]; Swedish Innovation Office (VINNOVA); Swedish Research Council [621-2011-3517]; Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation [2012.0302]; National Science Foundation [DMR-1105253]; ANR [ANR-13-BSV5-0019-01]; Fondation pour la Recherche Medicale [DBS20131128446]; Fondation de lAvenir; Onnesjo Foundation; Region PACA; Microvitae Technologies; Orthogonal, Inc.; Marie Curie Fellowships
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