SELF-ADAPTIVE AND STIMULI-RESPONSIVE HYBRID POLYELECTROLYTE/SEMICONDUCTOR BIOSYSTEMS

Katja Skorb

Biomaterials Department, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Germany

Abstract

“Intelligent” systems with actuation of soft matter “on demand” is very attractive. We are now on the frontiers of proving the concept, in particular, control of proton concentration gradients, to run parallel reactions and amplify one, inhibit other – chemical networks – to actuate soft matter to control cell and tissue growth and biofilm formation for a hybrid polyelectrolyte/semiconductor systems. We analyze the following questions. How does specific ion release at localized areas at certain time possible? How we can generate and control ion concentration gradients: production, storage and controllable release? How does it affect microorganisms attraction and growth? The sub-questions concerns synergetic network regulation and spatiotemporal surface bioactivity: (i) the mechanisms behind the effect of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on microorganisms; (ii) the ion gradient to support growth of selective cells located at certain areas; (iii) the effects of the surface modified films as photo-controllable bioactuators: conformational transitions in the polymeric biofilms. In particular, we develop hybrid polyelectrolyte/semiconductor systems undergoing oscillation switch with light to control system bioactivity for biocide coatings and microfluidic chips for biosensing, cell and tissue growth.

Keywords: Polyelectrolyte, stimuli-response, drug delivery, actuation, biocoating.