title: Graphene quantum dots interfaced with single bacterial spore for bio-electromechanical devices: a graphene cytobot.
abstract: The nanoarchitecture and micromachinery of a cell can be leveraged to fabricate sophisticated cell-driven devices. This requires a coherent strategy to derive cell's mechanistic abilities, microconstruct, and chemical-texture towards such microtechnologies. For example, a microorganism's hydrophobic membrane encapsulating hygroscopic constituents allows it to sustainably withhold a high aquatic pressure. Further, it provides a rich surface chemistry available for nano-interfacing and a strong mechanical response to humidity. Here we demonstrate a route to incorporate a complex cellular structure into microelectromechanics by interfacing compatible graphene quantum dots (GQDs) with a highly responsive single spore microstructure. A sensitive and reproducible electron-tunneling width modulation of 1.63 nm within a network of GQDs chemically-secured on a spore was achieved via sporal hydraulics with a driving force of 299.75 Torrs (21.7% water at GQD junctions). The electron-transport activation energy and the Coulomb blockade threshold for the GQD network were 35 meV and 31 meV, respectively; while the inter-GQD capacitance increased by 1.12 folds at maximum hydraulic force. This is the first example of nano/bio interfacing with spores and will lead to the evolution of next-generation bio-derived microarchitectures, probes for cellular/biochemical processes, biomicrorobotic-mechanisms, and membranes for micromechanical actuation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, 810 S. Clinton, Chicago, Illinois. 60607, USA.
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Sreeprasad
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, 810 S. Clinton, Chicago, Illinois. 60607, USA.
authors.forename: Phong
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, 810 S. Clinton, Chicago, Illinois. 60607, USA.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alshogeathri
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, 810 S. Clinton, Chicago, Illinois. 60607, USA.
authors.forename: Luke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hibbeler
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, 810 S. Clinton, Chicago, Illinois. 60607, USA.
authors.forename: Fabian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, 810 S. Clinton, Chicago, Illinois. 60607, USA.
authors.forename: Nolan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: McNeil
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, 810 S. Clinton, Chicago, Illinois. 60607, USA.
authors.forename: Vikas
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Berry
mesh_terms: D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000737:chemistry*; D013171:Spores, Bacterial
chemical_list: D006108:Graphite