Communicating with the building blocks of life using organic electronic conductors

The design and synthesis of inherently conducting polymer materials has resulted in the development of highly efficient bio monitoring and modification systems. These organic electrodes have been used to facilitate interactions with amino acids, proteins, enzymes, antibodies, DNA and even whole cells. Hybrid systems containing biological moieties have been used as sensors and molecular actuators (smart membranes). Biomimetics has also proven useful in the design of efficient synthetic sensing and actuating (artificial muscle) systems.