Bozhi Tian1
University of Chicago1
The use of biocompatible and biodegradable devices for the modulation of cells and tissues has many potential implications for medical and industrial technologies. This presentation will showcase several recent projects in this area. First, I will discuss the construction of a soil-like material from nanostructured minerals, starch granules, and liquid metals, designed to mimic immobile inorganic and organic materials and mobile phases in soil. This soil-like material is biocompatible and recyclable. It possesses chemical, optical, or mechanical responsiveness to yield write-erase electrical functions. Using soil-like materials, we demonstrate enhanced microbial metabolism and biofuel production in vitro. In addition, it can enrich gut bacterial diversity under pathological conditions and remedy bacterial dysbiosis in vivo. Afterwards, I will present a class of granule-enabled hydrogel composites that contain a range of biopolymers and synthetic hydrogels. The composites have many tissue-like properties, such as strain-stiffening behaviors. Using granular tissue-like materials, pneumatically actuated bioelectronic device applications have been developed, such as recording the electrocardiogram signal of the heart ex vivo. Additionally, I will present a recently developed nanoporous/non-porous heterojunction for improved actuation biointerfaces. At the end of my presentation, I will discuss future composite or heterojunction developments towards living machines.