Cells exist in natural, dynamic microenvironmental niches that facilitate biological responses to external physicochemical cues such as mechanical and electrical stimuli. For excitable cells, exogenous electrical cues are of interest due to their ability to stimulate or regulate cellular behavior via cascade signaling involving ion channels, gap junctions, and integrin receptors across the membrane. In recent years, conductive biomaterials have been demonstrated to influence or record these electrosensitive biological processes whereby the primary design criterion is to achieve seamless cell–material integration. As such, currently available bioelectronic materials are predominantly engineered toward achieving high-performing devices while maintaining the ability to recapitulate the local excitable cell/tissue microenvironment. However, such reports rarely address the dynamic signal coupling or exchange that occurs at the biotic–abiotic interface, as well as the distinction between the ionic transport involved in natural biological process and the electronic (or mixed ionic/electronic) conduction commonly responsible for bioelectronic systems. In this review, we highlight current literature reports that offer platforms capable of bidirectional signal exchange at the biotic–abiotic interface with excitable cell types, along with the design criteria for such biomaterials. Furthermore, insights on current materials not yet explored for biointerfacing or bioelectronics that have potential for bidirectional applications are also provided. Finally, we offer perspectives aimed at bringing attention to the coupling of the signals delivered by synthetic material to natural biological conduction mechanisms, areas of improvement regarding characterizing biotic–abiotic crosstalk, as well as the dynamic nature of this exchange, to be taken into consideration for material/device design consideration for next-generation bioelectronic systems.
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June 2024
Review Article|
May 08 2024
Looking both ways: Electroactive biomaterials with bidirectional implications for dynamic cell–material crosstalk
Kathryn Kwangja Lee
;
Kathryn Kwangja Lee
(Conceptualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing)
1
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California
, Irvine, California 92697, USA
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Natalie Celt
;
Natalie Celt
(Conceptualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing)
2
Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California
, Irvine, California 92697, USA
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Herdeline Ann M. Ardoña
Herdeline Ann M. Ardoña
a)
(Conceptualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing)
1
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California
, Irvine, California 92697, USA
2
Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California
, Irvine, California 92697, USA
3
Department of Chemistry, University of California
, Irvine, California 92697, USA
4
Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California
, Irvine, California 92697, USA
a)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: [email protected]
Search for other works by this author on:
Kathryn Kwangja Lee
1
Natalie Celt
2
Herdeline Ann M. Ardoña
1,2,3,4,a)
1
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California
, Irvine, California 92697, USA
2
Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California
, Irvine, California 92697, USA
3
Department of Chemistry, University of California
, Irvine, California 92697, USA
4
Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California
, Irvine, California 92697, USA
a)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: [email protected]
Biophysics Rev. 5, 021303 (2024)
Article history
Received:
October 15 2023
Accepted:
April 15 2024
Citation
Kathryn Kwangja Lee, Natalie Celt, Herdeline Ann M. Ardoña; Looking both ways: Electroactive biomaterials with bidirectional implications for dynamic cell–material crosstalk. Biophysics Rev. 1 June 2024; 5 (2): 021303. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0181222
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