Micelle-enabled self-assembly of porous and monolithic carbon membranes for bioelectronic interfaces

Abstract

Real-world bioelectronics applications, including drug delivery systems, biosensing, and electrical modulation of tissues and organs, largely require biointerfaces at the macroscopic level. However, traditional macroscale bioelectronic electrodes usually exhibit invasive or power-inefficient architectures, inability to form uniform and subcellular interfaces, or faradaic reactions at electrode surfaces. Here, we develop a micelle-enabled self-assembly approach for a binder-free and carbon-based monolithic device, aimed at large-scale bioelectronic interfaces. The device incorporates a multiscale porous material architecture, an interdigitated microelectrode layout, and a supercapacitor-like performance. In cell training processes, we use the device to modulate the contraction rate of primary cardiomyocytes at the subcellular level to target frequency in vitro . We also achieve capacitive control of the electrophysiology in isolated hearts, retinal tissues, and sciatic nerves, as well as bioelectronic cardiac sensing. Our results support the exploration of device platforms already used in energy research to identify new opportunities in bioelectronics.

Nano‐ and Microscale Optical and Electrical Biointerfaces and Their Relevance to Energy Research

“…Biocatalysis interface [38][39][40] Photothermal effect Photothermal devices Optocapacitance modulation interface [41,42] Charging and discharging in capacitors and micro-supercapacitors Capacitors and micro-supercapacitors Capacitive biological modulation interface [33,43] Electrocatalysis Clean energy conversion technologies Biological sensing or modulation interface [44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51] characteristics, nanomaterials are attractive for various energy science applications. For instance, for traditional silicon solar cells, high purity silicon materials are required for light absorption and carrier extraction.…”

“…Among different cell modulation approaches, such as faradaic, [32,78] photothermal, [41] and capacitive effects, [33] the capacitive method relies on the perturbation of double-layer capacitance on the electrode/electrolyte interface to generate electric fields for cell stimulation. The faradaic redox reactions and heat effects are effectively suppressed in this process; the charge injection is rapid and efficient.…”

“…[35] The adaptation of micro-supercapacitor for biological modulation is more promising to effectively increase the capacitive current due to the large surface area of the materials, and the possible contribution from pseudocapacitance effect in addition to the double layer capacitance. [33,43] Fang et al have recently explored mesoporous carbon-based micro-supercapacitor-like device as a bioelectronic platform for modulations across multiple length scales from in vitro cellular stimulation to ex vivo and in vivo tissue or organ stimulations. [33] Moreover, bioelectronic cardiac sensing was also achieved with the device.…”

“…[33,43] Fang et al have recently explored mesoporous carbon-based micro-supercapacitor-like device as a bioelectronic platform for modulations across multiple length scales from in vitro cellular stimulation to ex vivo and in vivo tissue or organ stimulations. [33] Moreover, bioelectronic cardiac sensing was also achieved with the device. In this work, the micro-supercapacitor device was fabricated from a bottom-up method, using micelles and colloidal silica as the primary and secondary templates (Figure 4a).…”

“…Adapted with permission. [33] Copyright 2021, Springer Nature. b) Schematic of electrocatalytic reduction reaction that generates nitric oxide (NO) in situ for neuronal modulation.…”