Interfacing organic electronics with biological cells

Project Information

BIOORGANICS

Grant agreement ID: 254133

Project closed

Start date 1 September 2010

End date 31 August 2012

Funded under

• Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)

Total cost € 175 162,40

EU contribution € 175 162,40

Coordinated by

ECOLE NATIONALE SUPERIEURE DES MINES DE SAINT-ETIENNE
France

Objective

The emergence of organic electronics – a technology that relies on carbon-based semiconductors to deliver devices with unique properties – represents one of the most dramatic developments of the past two decades. A rapidly emerging new direction in the field involves the interface with biology. The “soft” nature of organics offers better mechanical compatibility with tissue than traditional electronic materials, while their natural compatibility with mechanically flexible substrates suits the non-planar form factors often required for implants. More importantly, their ability to conduct ions in addition to electrons and holes opens up a new communication channel with biology. The experimental work will explore the fundamentals of communication at the interface between conducting polymers and living cells. Specifically, this project will examine the merits of organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) as the “input” devices from the cellular world: devices that translate ionic fluxes from electrically active cells into electrical signals in the transistor channel. The fellow will seek to understand the mechanism behind recording the electrical activity of cells with OECTs and to use this knowledge to design OECTs that record action potentials in an efficient and chemically-sensitive manner. Through collaborations with the microelectronics industry and partners in life sciences, the applications of OECTs in biomedical implants and sensors will be exploited.

Fields of science

• natural sciences › chemical sciences › polymer sciences
• engineering and technology › electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering › electronic engineering › sensors
• natural sciences › physical sciences › electromagnetism and electronics › semiconductivity
• natural sciences › physical sciences › electromagnetism and electronics › microelectronics
• medical and health sciences › medical biotechnology › implants

Programme(s)

• FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)

Topic(s)

• FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IEF - Marie Curie Action: "Intra-European Fellowships for Career Development"

Call for proposal

FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IEF
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

MC-IEF - Intra-European Fellowships (IEF)

Coordinator

ECOLE NATIONALE SUPERIEURE DES MINES DE SAINT-ETIENNE

• EU contribution: € 175 162,40
• Address: COURS FAURIEL 158 ; 42023 SAINT ETIENNE CEDEX ; France
• Activity type: Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
• Administrative Contact: Christelle Wojciechowski (Ms.)
• Total cost: No data