Enzymatically Polymerized Organic Conductors on Native Lipid Membranes

The dual capability of conductive polymers to conduct ions and electrons, in combination with their flexible mechanical properties, makes them ideal for bioelectronic applications. This study explores the in situ enzymatic polymerization of water-soluble π-conjugated monomers on native lipid bilayers derived from the F11 cell line, mimicking mammalian neural membranes. Enzymatic polymerization was catalyzed using horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in the presence of oxidant hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and monitored via electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (EQCM-D) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Results showed polymerization with HRP. The structural properties of the formed polymer films were characterized ex situ using atomic force microscopy (AFM), while the quality of the F11 native lipid vesicles and bilayer was respectively assessed through dynamic light scattering (DLS) and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) techniques. This work demonstrates, for the first time, the feasibility of the in situ formation of conductive polymers on native lipid membranes, offering a promising approach for the development of minimally invasive neural electrodes to diagnose and treat neurological disorders.