Ion Bipolar Junction Transistors and Diodes to Regulate Signaling in Cells

摘要

In blends of conjugated polymers and polyelectrolytes or in conjugated polyelectrolytes, fast ionic and electronic charge transport can co-exist. This opens up for novel devices in which translation of an electronic signal into an ionic one can be achieved, and vice verse. In organic electronics ion pumps (OEIP) based on the combination of a polyanion (PSS) and a p-type organic semiconductor (PEDOT), electrophoretic transport of charged biomolecules (cations, neurotransmitters) has been realized. These devices can be miniaturized down to 10 micrometer in channel width and has successfully been utilized to regulate signaling in neuronal cells at very high spatiotemporal resolution. In a pen-shaped version of the OEIP successful regulation of a sensory function was demonstrated, in vivo. From the point of view of an equivalent circuit element the OEIP behaves identically as an electronic resistor. The only difference between the OEIP and a classical resistor is then that the charges running through the OEIP are entirely represented by ions.