Conjugated Polymers for Assessing and Controlling Biofunctions

We develop materials and devices within the field of Organic Bioelectronics for control, stimuli and sensing of mammalian cells. Projects include controlling stem cell niches with redox controlled growth factor presentation, development of new membrane intercalating conjugated polymers for improved electrophysiology interfaces for stem-cell derived neurons and Organic Electronics-based metabolic sensors.

Using heparin-incorporating conjugated PEDOT we developed a switch that can turn on stem cell differentiation via presentation of FGF (fibroblast growth factor)

Sketch of an array of organic FETs on an organized neural network

Collaborations:

Damia Mawad, UNSW, Sydney

Max Hamedi, Royal Institute of Technology, KTH

Key Publications:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/anie.201103728

http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0018624