Synthesis of a cell-embedded conductive polymer hydrogel as a bioelectronic interface

Abstract

Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) interface bacterial metabolic processes with electronic systems for purposes including biosensing, bioremediation, and modulating biological activity. A key bottleneck that currently hinders development of these systems is the difficulty of interfacing bacteria with electronics, resulting in the limited mutual transfer of charge associated with the contact between the bacteria's natural biofilms and an electrode surface. I developed a formulation using biocompatible conductive polymers and designed a device in which to electropolymerize an engineered living hydrogel that incorporates electrically active microbes into its polymer matrix, increasing the surface area contact between the bacteria and the electrode. With a connected potentiostat, the device allows for repeatable, consistent electrochemical systems for hydrogel synthesis and measurement via cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. Engineering a new bridge between biology and electronics requires material that can syncretize the two worlds and an engineering design-build-test-learn cycle that can fine-tune this bridge to create a path toward more environmentally-friendly energy production in the future.