BIO-HYBRID INTEGRATED SYSTEMS

Solid-state electronics has occupied a primary position on the leading edge of science and engineering in the United States since the 1950s. An inherently multidisciplinary field, it has engendered varied research and development efforts, typically encompassing more than one basic scientific discipline. Recently, the union of microelectronics and the molecular engineering of organic interface structures has allowed the study of functional combinations of integrated circuit technology with organic or biological materials. The current literature addresses issues including (1) the theoretical investigation of molecular electronics devices, (2) the use of structurally ordered organic monolayers as device components or processing tools and (3) the first attempts to investigate living cells by placing them on electronic test structures.Researchers at Arizona State University have recently invented a novel technology, bio-hybrid integrated systems, in which biological elements such as single-cell organisms are guided to self-connect with specially designed integrated circuits. Specialized surfaces on the integrated circuit form the interfacial layers between the solid-state and biological moieties, allowing attachment and growth of the cells.This technology is expected to enjoy potential applications in a broad variety of areas such as chemical sensors, physical sensors, micromachines, microbatteries, medical diagnostics, and a host of other applications