Metabolite-induced in vivo fabrication of substrate-free organic bioelectronics

Interfacing electronics with neural tissue is crucial for understanding complex biological functions, but conventional bioelectronics consist of rigid electrodes fundamentally incompatible with living systems. The difference between static solid-state electronics and dynamic biological matter makes seamless integration of the two challenging. To address this incompatibility, we developed a method to dynamically create soft substrate-free conducting materials within the biological environment. We demonstrate in vivo electrode formation in zebrafish and leech models, using endogenous metabolites to trigger enzymatic polymerization of organic precursors within an injectable gel, thereby forming conducting polymer gels with long-range conductivity. This approach can be used to target specific biological substructures and is suitable for nerve stimulation, paving the way for fully integrated, in vivo-fabricated electronics within the nervous system.

Automated summary

Interfacing electronics with neural tissue is crucial for understanding complex biological functions, but traditional bioelectronics are not compatible with living systems. To overcome this, researchers developed a method to create conducting materials within the biological environment using endogenous metabolites. This approach allows for the formation of conducting polymer gels with long-range conductivity, paving the way for fully integrated, in vivo-fabricated electronics within the nervous system.