Communications of the ACM
Melanin Considered for Bio-Friendly Electronics
Natural melanins such as squid ink are being considered as new materials for bioelectronics.
Credit: Paul Schwenn
University of Queensland researchers recently published a study that provides insight into the electrical properties of melanin and its biologically compatible "bioelectronic" features.
The study shows that melanin could be used to create biologically friendly electronic devices for use in applications ranging from medical sensors to tissue stimulation treatments. Queensland professor Paul Meredith notes that organic semiconductors are just beginning to be used in conventional electronic devices. "There are very few examples of natural organic semiconductors and melanin was thought to be the very first example, demonstrated to be such in the early 70s," Meredith says.
In semiconductors, electrons carry the electrical current, while in biological systems, ions carry the current. "We've now found that in melanin, both electrons and ions play important roles," says Queensland professor Ben Powell.
The study points to a new way of interfacing conventional electronics to biological systems using a combination of ion-and-electron conducting biomaterials such as melanin.
"There are very few materials that meet these compatible bioelectronic requirements, and an insight into melanin's important biological functions and properties has been really crucial in this study," Meredith says.
From University of Queensland
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