Communicating with the building blocks of life using organic electronic conductors

The design and synthesis of inherently conducting polymer materials has res ulted in the development of highly efficient bio monitoring and modificatio n systems. These organic electrodes have been used to facilitate interactio ns with amino acids, proteins, enzymes, antibodies, DNA and even whole cell s. Hybrid systems containing biological moieties have been used as sensors and molecular actuators (smart membranes). Biomimetics has also proven usef ul in the design of efficient synthetic sensing and actuating (artificial m uscle) systems.