A Solution for Biocompatibility Problems

Here, we describe the biocompatibility of solution-processable organic semiconducting polymers. Low-operating voltage organic thin-film transistor (OTFT) devices have been fabricated, which can be used as sensors in electrolytes. The devices are based on regioregular poly(3hexylthiophene) (P3HT), being both a reasonably conductive and optically active polymer. To overcome biocompatibility problems, protein-based coatings and oxygen-plasma treatments have been adopted to enable growth of adherent living cells on those modified surfaces. With the demonstration of biocompatible semiconducting polymeric layers, a hurdle for the realizations of low-cost and mass-produced sensors in life science has been overcome. This opens new possibilities and applications of biological sensing with organic electronic devices.