Bioelectronics bridges the field of electronics and biology primarily due to the ionic properties of biological molecules and the ability for conjugated molecules to carry current.
This integration has allowed for cutting-edge research and the development of a range of useful applications which include artificial limbs, drug delivery systems, pacemakers and portable devices to monitor patient's health. Conductive polymers are designed to match the similarities of the chemical nature of biological systems. The structure of these polymers can be altered through different methods which also enables the unification with mechanical supports that have different form factors such as fibrous, stretchable and porous.
This integration has allowed for cutting-edge research and the development of a range of useful applications which include artificial limbs, drug delivery systems, pacemakers and portable devices to monitor patient's health. Conductive polymers are designed to match the similarities of the chemical nature of biological systems. The structure of these polymers can be altered through different methods which also enables the unification with mechanical supports that have different form factors such as fibrous, stretchable and porous.
The concept of bioelectronics was first introduced by Luigi Galvani in the 18th century when he discovered that the muscles of dead frog legs twitched when exposed to electricity. Galvani described the twitching as “animal electricity” and theorized that it was due to an electrical fluid, now known as ions, carried by the nervous system to the muscles. This experiment shed light onto the relationship between electricity and living tissue which led onto the development of electronic devices.
The study of biology has been transformed by electronics. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, the molecular basis of the nerve and muscle function was achieved using high-impedance amplifiers. This study led onto researchers being capable of measuring the ionic current which gave an insight into how the nerve behaves. The electron microscope, first demonstrated in 1930, is another example of the application of electronics in biology which has allowed scientists to visualise the world of cells at a new level of detail.
The key to these new technologies is the understanding of the interface between biology and suitable electronic materials. The soft nature of organic electronics offers better mechanical compatibility due to its similarity with biological systems. Conjugated polymers are also commonly used for bio interfacing since they can maintain their electrical properties whilst integrated with biological molecules.