Symposium FM
Living Materials: From Electronics to Biomedicine
ABSTRACTS
Session FM-1 Materials for electronic devices with biological materials
FM-1:IL01 Using Synthetic Biology to Engineer Living Electronics Across Scales
J. ATKINSON, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, NJ, USA; and Omenn-Darling Bioengineering Institute, Princeton University, NJ, USA
Spatially and temporally controlling charge transport in biohybrid devices consisting of living cells and electrodes is challenging. Synthetic biology holds great promise for addressing this challenge by enabling control over the assembly and activity of living components of engineered living materials. This could enable the construction of living electronic devices for applications in biosensing, bioremediation, and biosynthesis. Here, I will present our efforts on controlling the assembly and electroactivity of living electronic materials based on engineered Shewanella oneidensis and Escherichia coli. Utilizing biofilm lithography, we patterned electroactive biofilms with defined geometries onto interdigitated electrodes to perform electrochemical gating measurements. We then used a chemically gated gene circuit to control electronic conductivity in the patterned biofilms by tuning expression of cytochromes. To adapt these living materials for sensing applications we used protein engineering to develop protein switches for gating extracellular electron transfer in a chemical dependent manner. These findings provide a new approach for fabricating living electronic sensors that convert chemical information to electronic signals that can be used in remote sensing applications.
FM-1:IL02 Sparking Current and Voltage from Photoactive Microorganisms: Materials Strategies and Device Integration
R. LABARILE, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per i Processi Chimico Fisici, Bari, Italy
The development of sustainable and biocompatible energy conversion systems is a major challenge in modern bioelectronics. Photosynthetic microorganisms offer a natural platform to create living photovoltaic devices that harvest solar energy through evolved light-conversion mechanisms. However, establishing stable electrical communication between cells and electrodes remains a critical bottleneck. Here, we present bio-electronic architectures integrating Rhodobacter sphaeroides in two configurations: (i) “as-cultured” cells directly deposited on transparent indium–tin oxide (ITO) substrates, and (ii) in vivo polydopamine (PDA)-coated cells immobilized on conductive surfaces. Under near-infrared illumination, ITO-based bio-electrodes generate stable and reversible photovoltage responses of several tens of millivolts, maintained under continuous light. The use of PDA coating, enhancing bacterial adhesion and electron transfer, enables photocurrent response in the nanoampere range without affecting cell viability. These strategies advance current bio-photonic technologies by avoiding complex purification steps of photosynthetic protein complexes and instead exploiting intact, self-sustaining bacterial cells as living light-driven energy transducers, paving the way toward truly sustainable bio-hybrid photovoltaics.
FM-1:IL03 Porous PEDOT: PSS Electrodes as Biohybrid Interfaces for Living Electronics
P. R.F. ROCHA, Bioelectronics & Bioenergy Research Lab, Centre for Functional Ecology – Science for People & the Planet, Coimbra, Portugal; and Associate Laboratory TERRA, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
The convergence of biological metabolism and soft electronics opens a pathway toward adaptive and sustainable “living materials.” Here we present ultra-large porous PEDOT:PSS electrodes that form intimate biohybrid interfaces with photosynthetic microorganisms. The porous polymer network supports ionic-electronic coupling, enabling real-time transduction of microbial redox activity into measurable electrical signals. Under illumination, the system displays clear photovoltage responses associated with photosynthetic charge separation, while in dark conditions, electroactive bacterial respiration sustains a baseline current. These results highlight the dual contribution of photosynthetic and respiratory metabolism to charge exchange at soft electronic interfaces, establishing a functional model for “living electronics” that bridge microbial electrochemistry, organic materials, and sustainable device engineering.
FM-1:IL04 Organic Bioelectronics for Scalable, Non-Invasive and High-Fidelity Electrophysiology
A. KYNDIAH, Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milano, Italy
Scalable and high-throughput platforms capable of non-invasively recording Action Potentials (APs) from excitable cells are urgently needed to accelerate disease modelling and drug discovery. Today, AP measurements still rely on the patch-clamp technique, which offers gold-standard fidelity but remains invasive, labor-intensive, and inherently low-throughput. Non-invasive alternatives such as planar multielectrode arrays (MEAs) do not capture true AP waveforms without membrane poration, limiting their ability to resolve subtle disease signatures or pharmacological effects. In this lecture, I will present a next-generation electrophysiology platform based on polymer based Electrolyte-Gated Organic Transistors (EGOTs) that enables non-invasive recordings with patch-clamp-like signal quality from human stem-cell-derived cardiomyocytes1–3. Crucially, the cell/device coupling plays a central role in achieving high-quality AP signals, extending beyond the intrinsic electrical performance of the device itself. I will show how this technology reliably detects proarrhythmic events, including early and delayed afterdepolarisations, opening new opportunities for predictive cardiotoxicity screening. I will further discuss ongoing efforts to apply the platform to patient-derived disease modelling, to scale it from single devices to multiwell array formats for high-throughput screening, and to extend its application from cardiomyocytes to neuronal AP recordings.
1. Kyndiah, A. et al. Non-invasive action potential recordings using printed electrolyte-gated polymer field-effect transistors. Nat. Commun. 16, 1–9 (2025). 2. Kyndiah, A. et al. Direct Recording of Action Potentials of Cardiomyocytes Through Solution Processed Planar Electrolyte-Gated Field-Effect Transistors. Sensors Actuators, B Chem. (2023). 3. Kyndiah, A. et al. Bioelectronic recordings of cardiomyocytes with accumulation mode electrolyte gated organic field effect transistors. Biosens. Bioelectron. 150, 111844 (2020).
FM-1:L05 Frequency-Selective Vibration Absorption of Viscoelastics Polymers for Mechanical Bandpass Filters in Bioelectronics
TAE-IL KIM, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, Korea
Bioelectronics encompassing electronic components and circuits for accessing human information play a vital role in real-time and continuous monitoring of biophysiological signals of electrophysiology, mechanical physiology, and electrochemical physiology. However, mechanical noise, particularly motion artifacts, poses a significant challenge in accurately detecting and analyzing target signals. While software-based “postprocessing” methods and signal filtering techniques have been widely employed, challenges such as signal distortion, major requirement of accurate models for classification, power consumption, and data delay inevitably persist. We present an overview of noise reduction strategies in bioelectronics, focusing on reducing motion artifacts and improving the signal-to-noise ratio through hardware-based approaches such as “preprocessing”.
Session FM-2 Materials synthesis, modification and characterization
FM-2:IL06 Engineered Living Structural Materials
A. MANJULA-BASAVANNA, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
In the emerging field of Engineered Living Materials (ELM), microbes are programmed to produce various functional materials, but the strategies to controllably tailor their structural properties have been largely limited. In this talk, I will present our recent efforts to produce the Engineered Living Structural Materials with modular properties, namely, Microbial Ink [1], Aquaplastic [2], and Paper-like Plastic [3]. Microbial Ink is the first-of-its-kind 3D printable functional bioink that is produced entirely from the genetically engineered microbial cells [1]. Herein, by taking inspirations from fibrin, we not only engineer the microbes to produce a nanofiber-based hydrogel but also tailor the rheological properties to serve as an extrudable bioink for functional applications. In an effort to find sustainable alternatives to petrochemical plastics, we have developed a water-processable bioplastic named AquaPlastic, by a simple fabrication process known as aquamolding [2]. In another work, we have developed paper-like plastic that integrates the stretchability of plastic with the flushable and compostable characteristics of paper for potential use in primary packaging [3].
[1] Nat. Commun., 2021, 12, 6600. [2] Nat. Chem. Biol., 2021, 17, 732. [3] Nat. Commun., 2024, 15, 917.
FM-2:IL07 A Bio-inspired "Living" Nanocomposite: Synergistic Design for High-Performance Applications with a Programmed Microbial End-of-Life
BONG SUP SHIM, Inha University, Department of Chemical Engineering and Program in Biomedical Science & Engineering, Incheon, Republic of Korea
We report the design and synthesis of a bio-inspired "living material"—a multifunctional nanobiocomposite that combines high-performance engineering properties with programmed biodegradability. The material architecture achieves a unique synergy between its components: cellulose nanofibers provide a robust scaffold, layered silicate clays enhance thermomechanical integrity, and polydopamine imparts both strong bio-adhesion and electrical conductivity. This hierarchical assembly results in a material with mechanical and electronic characteristics suitable for demanding applications, including bioelectronics and structural components. The defining feature of this material is its biologically programmed end-of-life. We have developed a novel process to harness and enhance the enzymatic capabilities of the Zophobas morio gut microbiome, which can selectively recognize and deconstruct the composite into benign constituents after its functional lifespan. This research establishes a new paradigm in material design, where the full lifecycle—from synthesis to function and finally to degradation—is engineered through a symbiotic combination of advanced materials science and microbiology, creating a pathway for truly sustainable and intelligent material systems.
FM-2:IL08 Biopolymers from Abundant Proteins: Design Principles for Polymerisation and Applications as Electronic Materials and in (Bio-) Catalysis
N. AMDURSKY, Chemistry, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
In the first part, I will overview design principles for utilising proteins to make large-scale polymers and which proteins to use. Our approach is to identify proteins available in bulk from raw waste feedstocks and use them in green polymerisation to form large-scale, elastic polymers. Using post-polymerisation modifications (PPM) and physical modifications allows us to tune the properties of the polymer. In the second part, I will focus on applications. The first is as conductive polymers, either proton-conductive or electron-conductive. Due to the water uptake of our protein-based polymers and the presence of oxo-amino-acids, they show excellent proton conductivity. Electron conduction can be achieved by either binding electron-mediating groups into the protein matrix or by using PPM with conjugated systems. I will also discuss how the protein-based platform can be used for catalysis. Our new protein-based biopolymers have several attractive properties: they are environmentally friendly, inherently biodegradable and biocompatible, exhibit good mechanical properties, and are formulated in accordance with most principles of green chemistry. Moreover, due to the low price tag of our chosen proteins and the simple formation process, the cost of the biopolymers is very low.
Session FM-3 Biocatalysts and their applications
FM-3:IL09 Cobalt-Globins as Bioelectrocatalysts for Hydrogen Evolution
M. MEGLIOLI, M. BORSARI, G. BATTISTUZZI, Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; M. BELLEI, C. A. BORTOLOTTI, G. DI ROCCO, A. RANIERI, M. SOLA, Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
Green hydrogen produced by water electrolysis, using electricity from renewable sources, is one of the most promising alternatives to fossil fuels. One of the main obstacles to its large-scale production is the high overvoltage required for the discharge of hydrogen. Hnce, new electrode materials featuring a lower overvoltage are highly sought for. Co-substituted metalloenzymes can help to overcome this issue, by combining good catalytic efficiency, solubility in water and resistance to degradative reactions with the possibility to tune their catalytic efficiency by selected point mutations. We prepared the Co-substituted derivatives of WT and mutated myoglobin and neuroglobin and used an electrochemical approach to verify their ability to act as electrobiocatalysts for hydrogen evolution from water. Upon physi-adsorption onto pyrolytic graphite electrode (PGE), the Co-substituted adducts of both globins sensibly lower the overpotential for hydrogen evolution and increase the intensity of the corresponding electrocatalytic peak compared to the bare PGE. The data indicate that a free coordination position on the Co ion is not a prerequisite for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution and provide some hints about the molecular determinants influencing the electrobiocatalytic mechanism.
FM-3:IL10 Biocatalysts and Biomaterials: Innovative Tools for Modern Organic Synthesis
A.M. FIORE, C. RICCIARDELLI, C. VICENTE-GARCIA, D. VONA, G.M. FARINOLA, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
In recent years, natural biomaterials have emerged as highly innovative and promising candidates due to their unique architectures and chemical functionalities. In this context, structured biological materials such as silk fibroin (SF) [1] and biosilica derived from diatom frustules [2] have proven to be versatile platforms for the design of heterogeneous catalysts. Silk fibroin exhibits a remarkable ability to support and/or coordinate metal ions through its amorphous domains, enabling the synthesis of catalytic complexes that display high activity, selectivity, and recyclability in organic synthesis [3]. Concurrently, diatom-derived biosilica, characterized by its hierarchical morphology and high porosity, has been functionalized with magnetic nanoparticles, laying the groundwork for the development of biocompatible cell shuttle systems [4]. Despite their distinct chemical compositions and structural features, both biomaterials exemplify how natural evolution can provide sustainable solutions for organic catalysis, opening new avenues for the integration of biological materials into green chemistry.
[1] 10.1002/ejoc.202001120. [2] 10.1002/adfm.201706214. [3] 10.1002/cssc.202500584. [4] 10.1039/d5tb00352k.
FM-3:IL11 Sustainable Electronic Biosensors through Advanced Materials Engineering
A.M. PAPPA, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE
With the emergence of conducting polymers exciting directions opened in bioelectronics research, bridging the gap between traditional electronics and biology. With the goal of fully integrated devices, organic bioelectronic technologies have been heavily explored the past decade resulting in novel materials/device configurations. Multiplexing capability, ability to adopt to complex performance requirements in biological fluids, sensitivity, stability, literal flexibility, and compatibility with large-area processes are only some of the merits of this technology for biomedical applications. This talk will highlight our recent progress in sustainable biosensor design, emphasizing materials engineering and rational strategies to eliminate costly reagents and reduce environmental impact. Focusing on applications ranging from wearables to point-of-care diagnostics, we demonstrate novel biocatalysts and 2D materials can enhance the sensitivity, conformability, and overall functionality of bioelectronic sensors, while minimizing environmental impact.
Session FM-4 Innovative tools for bioremediation and biomedicine
FM-4:IL12 Removing Water Underwater: Thermoresponsive Silk–Tannic Acid Coacervates as Bio-Inspired Platform for Wet Adhesion
M. LO PRESTI, J. GIANONE, CHUNGMAN KIM, L. DORFMANN, B. HIRSCH, N. OSTROVSKY-SNIDER, G. GUIDETTI, S. BETTI, F.G. OMENETTO, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
Designing smart interfaces with reversible adhesive properties under wet conditions remains a significant challenge in adhesion science and materials engineering. Although advances in catechol-based chemistries, polyelectrolyte complexes, and supramolecular systems have enabled partial mimicry of biological adhesion, replicating the full dynamic functionality observed in nature remains elusive. Here, we introduce a simple yet powerful bioinspired strategy for creating a reversible, thermoresponsive underwater adhesive capable of dynamically exchanging water with its surroundings. This system exploits a network of dynamic, noncovalent molecular interactions to regulate hydration, enabling controlled interfacial activation and selective displacement of hydration layers. The result is a material that exhibits rapid and tunable adhesion across a wide range of submerged surfaces. Overall, these findings establish a new conceptual framework for designing smart, environmentally responsive adhesives whose performance not only emulates but may ultimately exceed that of natural underwater systems.
FM-4:IL13 Adaptive Laboratory Evolution of Extremophilic Microalgae for Heavy Metal Bioremediation
J. KARGUL1, F. MARCHETTO1, P. LOREK1, T. CONDE2, M.A. ŚLIWIŃSKA3, B. REWERSKI4, M. LEBIEDZIŃSKA-ARCISZEWSKA5, J. SZYMAŃSKI3, M.R. WIĘCKOWSKI5, R. MATLAKOWSKA4, M.R. DOMINGUES2, 1Solar Fuels Laboratory, Center of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland; 2Department of Chemistry, CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, University of Aveiro, Santiago University Campus, Aveiro, Portugal; 3Laboratory of Imaging Tissue Structure and Function, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS, Warsaw, Poland; 4Department of Geomicrobiology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa, Poland; 5Laboratory of Mitochondrial Biology and Metabolism, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS, Warsaw, Poland
The extremophilic red microalgae Cyanidiales thrive at low pH, moderately high temperatures and elevated levels of heavy metals. Long-term application of extremely high Ni and Co concentrations (above 3 mM) to cells of Cyanidioschyzon merolae (Cyanidiales reresentative) results in irreversible photosynthetic damage, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. To enhance heavy metal tolerance of this alga, we applied adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) to develop robust strains capable of thriving at 10 mM Ni and 3 mM Co. The novel strains exhibited growth, photosynthetic performance, as well as pigment and ATP content comparable to WT. The ALA strains accumulated lipids as cytoplasmic droplets with increased content of saturated fatty acids. They also showed significantly enhanced Ni and Co biosorption. Notably, the cells produced significantly less reactive oxygen species than the WT, likely due to increased superoxide dismutase activity. These results demonstrate the potential of ALE to generate metal-hyper resistant microalgal strains suitable for biotechnological applications in extreme environments.
This work was funded by the National Science Centre, Poland (OPUS 17 grant no. 2019/33/B/NZ3/01870 to J.K.).
FM-4:IL15 Electrochemiluminescence-based Biosensor: from Academic Curiosity to an Industrial Success
A. FRACASSA1, G. FERRARI2, M.V. BALLI1, I. RIMOLDI2, G. FACCHETTI2, L. ARNAL2, A. MARCONI1, M. CALVARESI1, L. PRODI1, L. DE COLA2, G. VALENTI1, 1Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, Alma Mater Studiorum − University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; 2Department of Pharmaceutical Science, DISFARM, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) is a leading technique in bioanalysis with an unique signal-to-noise ratio. [1] [2] The electrochemically-induced way to generate luminescence signal allows to obtain sensors with low background, high sensitivity, good temporal and spatial resolution, robustness, versatility, and low cost. As a matter of fact, ECL has become a powerful analytical technique widely studied and applied both from the academic and industrial point of view. If we have a look at the last 20 years, the ECL research has been exponentially increased and commercial clinical analyzer, Elecsys®, is an industrial success with more than 150 immunoassays. In this context, we were able to “fuel” the generation of the ECL reagents and optimize the mechanism reaching very competitive limits of detection in complexes matrix such as blood and urine. [3] Our last efforts have been focused also in the combination between ECL and microscopy for single cells analysis with high throughput and low detection limit [4] and stimuli responsive ECL luminophore[5]
[1] Coord. Chem. Rev. 2018, 367, 65–81. [2] Chem. Soc. Rev., 2010, 39, 3275-3304. [3] J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2016, 138, 15935. [4] Nature Commun. 2020, 11, 2668. [5] J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025, 147, 35501−35509.
FM-4:L16 Chemically Decorated Natural Sea Egg Capsules as a New Tool for Bioremediation
A. RADESCO1, F. DE MASTRO1, M. DONNALOIA2, M. SPAGNUOLO1, R. TERZANO1, D. VONA1, G. BRUNETTI1, 1Dipartimento di Scienze del Suolo, della Pianta e degli Alimenti (Di.S.S.P.A.), Università Degli Studi di Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, Italy; 2Institute of Sciences of Food Production, ISPA-CNR, Foggia, Italy
Choosing from materials proposed in literature for environmental remediation, biohybrid composites, standing at the intersection of material science, chemistry, and biology, result promising, effective and biocompatible. We present here the potential of the use of porous collagene/keratine-based capsules, naturally released by marine murex snails after their eggs hatching [1], as an organic matrix capable of adsorbing pollutants. Through different dendrimeric poly-functionalizations based on aryl bioinspired chemistry, we correlated both chemical and morphological aspects of this new envisaging material to the sorption of various organic pollutants.
[1] https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enceco.2025.03.009.