Cellular interfaces with hydrogen-bonded organic semiconductor hierarchical nanocrystals

Sytnyk M, Jakesova M, Litvinukova M, Mashkov O, Kriegner D, Stangl J, Nebesarova J, Fecher FW, Schoefberger W, Sariciftci NS, Schindl R, Heiß W, Glowacki ED (2017)

Publication Language: English

Publication Status: Published

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2017

Journal

Nature Communications Nature Publishing Group: Nature Communications

Publisher: NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP

Book Volume: 8

URI: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5522432/

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00135-0

Abstract

Successful formation of electronic interfaces between living cells and semiconductors hinges on being able to obtain an extremely close and high surface-area contact, which preserves both cell viability and semiconductor performance. To accomplish this, we introduce organic semiconductor assemblies consisting of a hierarchical arrangement of nanocrystals. These are synthesised via a colloidal chemical route that transforms the nontoxic commercial pigment quinacridone into various biomimetic three-dimensional arrangements of nanocrystals. Through a tuning of parameters such as precursor concentration, ligands and additives, we obtain complex size and shape control at room temperature. We elaborate hedgehog-shaped crystals comprising nanoscale needles or daggers that form intimate interfaces with the cell membrane, minimising the cleft with single cells without apparent detriment to viability. Excitation of such interfaces with light leads to effective cellular photostimulation. We find reversible light-induced conductance changes in ion-selective or temperature-gated channels.

Authors with CRIS profile

Mykhailo Sytnyk Institute Materials for Electronics and Energy Technology (i-MEET) (i-MEET) Oleksandr Mashkov Institute Materials for Electronics and Energy Technology (i-MEET) (i-MEET) Wolfgang Heiß Professur für Werkstoffwissenschaften (lösungsprozessierte Halbleitermaterialien)

Additional Organisation(s)

Technische Fakultät Institute Materials for Electronics and Energy Technology (i-MEET) (i-MEET)

Involved external institutions

Johannes Kepler Universität (JKU) Linz AT Austria (AT) Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (ASCR) / Akademie věd České republiky (AVČR) CZ Czech Republic (CZ) Bayerisches Zentrum für Angewandte Energieforschung e.V. (ZAE Bayern) DE Germany (DE) Univerzita Karlova v Praze / Charles University in Prague CZ Czech Republic (CZ)

How to cite

APA:

Sytnyk, M., Jakesova, M., Litvinukova, M., Mashkov, O., Kriegner, D., Stangl, J.,... Glowacki, E.D. (2017). Cellular interfaces with hydrogen-bonded organic semiconductor hierarchical nanocrystals. Nature Communications, 8. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-00135-0

MLA:

Sytnyk, Mykhailo, et al. "Cellular interfaces with hydrogen-bonded organic semiconductor hierarchical nanocrystals." Nature Communications 8 (2017).

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