Ion bipolar junction transistors.
Dynamic control of chemical microenvironments is essential for continued development in numerous fields of life sciences. Such control could be achieved with active chemical circuits for delivery of ions and biomolecules. As the basis for such circuitry, we report a solid-state ion bipolar junction transistor (IBJT) based on conducting polymers and thin films of anion- and cation-selective membranes. The IBJT is the ionic analogue to the conventional semiconductor BJT and is manufactured using standard microfabrication techniques. Transistor characteristics along with a model describing the principle of operation, in which an anionic base current amplifies a cationic collector current, are presented. By employing the IBJT as a bioelectronic circuit element for delivery of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, its efficacy in modulating neuronal cell signaling is demonstrated.
Tybrandt
Klas
K
Linköping University, Department of Science and Technology, Organic Electronics, SE-601 74 Norrköping, Sweden.
Larsson
Karin C
KC
Richter-Dahlfors
Agneta
A
Berggren
Magnus
M
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D017136:Ion Transport; D007477:Ions; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011108:Polymers; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014173:Transistors, Electronic
D007477:Ions; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D011108:Polymers; D000109:Acetylcholine