Peptides ‘could help the body to communicate with bioelectronic devices’

Researchers from the University of Washington have developed a means of using peptides as a communication medium for bioelectronic devices.

Their new study has shown how peptides – small proteins that carry out countless essential tasks at a cellular level – can potentially be used to exchange information between the biochemistry of the human body and the artificial chemistry of bioelectronics.

A genetically engineered peptide can be assembled into nanowires atop 2D solid surfaces, allowing information to be relayed across the bio/nano interface through the natural process of molecular recognition.

Specifically, the peptide GrBP5 showed promising interactions with graphene, spontaneously organising itself into ordered nanowire patterns and altering the electrical conductivity of a graphene-based device through a few mutations.

This is a two-way communication stream, that allows peptides to understand the language of the technology and vice versa, meaning the system becomes a coherent bioelectronic interface.

University of Washington professor Mehmet Sarikaya said: "Now we need to explore the basic properties of this bridge and how we can modify it to permit the flow of information from electronic and photonic devices to biological systems."

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