Printed Electronic Devices and Systems for Interfacing with Single Cells up to Organoids

The field of bioelectronics with the aim to contact cells, cell clusters, biological tissues and organoids has become a vast enterprise. Currently, it is mainly relying on classical micro- and nanofabrication methods to build devices and systems. Very recently the field is highly pushed by the development of novel printable organic, inorganic and biomaterials as well as advanced digital printing technologies such as laser and inkjet printing employed in this endeavor. Recent advantages in alternative additive manufacturing and 3D printing methods enable interesting new routes, in particular for applications requiring the incorporation of delicate biomaterials or creation of 3D scaffold structures that show a high potential for bioelectronics and building of hybrid bio-/inorganic devices. Here the current state of printed 2D and 3D electronic structures and related lithography techniques for the interfacing of electronic devices with biological systems are reviewed. The focus lies on in vitro applications for interfacing single cell, cell clusters, and organoids. Challenges and future prospects are discussed for all-printed hybrid bio/electronic systems targeting biomedical research, diagnostics, and health monitoring. Printed electronics and related additive manufacturing methods offer exciting new ways for the creation of hybrid devices for the interfacing of biological systems to electronics. In the review, the current state of printed electronics is shown in this regard and the future potential for advanced hybrid devices tailoring the contact of electronics and cells, cell clusters, and organoids is discussed.image

Automated summary

The field of bioelectronics aims to connect cells and biological tissues, and has recently been greatly advanced by the development of printable organic, inorganic, and biomaterials, as well as advanced digital printing technologies. Additive manufacturing and 3D printing methods offer new routes for the creation of hybrid bio-/inorganic devices. In this review, the current state and future prospects of printed electronics for interfacing with biological systems are discussed.