Tutorial: biomembranes in hybrid living bioelectronics

Abstract

The integration of biological and artificial systems promises the effective coupling of living cells with electronic devices. However, to create biomimetic platforms capable of bridging biological with artificial systems, it is necessary to first enhance cell adhesion and cell interactions with engineered surfaces via the integration of techniques from materials science, nanotechnology and synthetic biology, such as structural functionalization techniques, and chemical or biological surface modifications. In this Tutorial Review we cover the use of polymer-based semiconductors and micro- and nanofabrication methods for the integration of biologically relevant cell membrane models with chip-based devices. This integration enhances cell–device coupling and provides an approach for studying membrane-level interactions. Although cell membranes are essential for understanding biological mechanisms, including drug responses, existing technologies rely on simplified synthetic models which lack biological complexity. Advances in electrical impedance measurements enable the study of membrane protein activity, providing insight into drug interactions and biomolecular processes. In addition, exploiting these hybrid systems can result in improved adhesion and electrostatic interactions, facilitating functional coatings for microdevices and neuromorphic applications. We discuss the recent advances in biomembrane–electronic interfaces, device design, surface modification, electronic materials, biomembrane formation and measurement techniques in the context of applications in drug discovery, diagnostics and neuromorphic computing, along with future directions for the field. This is a Tutorial Review on advances in bioelectronic interfaces covering research in material science for biomimetic interfaces and in synthetic biology for the reconstitution of complex biological functions.