Engineered Living Electronic Interface

Cells can be considered as nanomaterial factories able to build structures of amazing complexity starting from a few molecular building blocks. The introduction into the cell of an exogenous chemical input may result in the fabrication of hybrid materials with unique functionalities, that can be exploited for diverse applications (from biomedicine to bioelectronics). We exploited this potential in a simple tissue-like organism, the freshwater polyp <i>Hydra</i> <i>vulgaris</i>, shown able to produce electronically conductive interface starting from thiophene based compounds. By simply incubating living polyps in a solution containing organic semiconductor oligomers the spontaneous polymerization into microstructures presenting electronic conductivity and electrochemical capacitance was observed[1]. In addition, for the first time their neuromodulatory function was demonstrated by behavioral and electrophysiological approaches. Here we provide an overview of recent results obtained by challenging Hydra with different chemical inputs and envisage the possibility of manufacturing living electronics, acting as highly performant electrodes to monitor and control important processes, from development to regeneration. These interfaces, seamlessly integrated into the cells and naturally evolving with the polyp life cycle, overcoming the issues of tissue-interface mismatch, adverse cell response, and low biocompatibility, suggest the possibility of augmenting electronic functionality in animals and the fabrication of a new class of engineered living materials.<br/><br/><br/>[1] G.Tommasini, G.Dufil, F. Fardella, X.Strakosas, E. Fergola, T.Abrahamsson, D.Bliman, R.Olsson, M.Berggren, A. Tino, E. Stavrinidou, C.<b>Tortiglione</b>, Seamless integration of bioelectronic interface in an animal model via in vivo polymerization of conjugated oligomers, Bioactive Materials, 2022 10: 107-116.