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Abstract
The field of bioelectronics bridges biology, electronics, and materials science to create devices that can sense and stimulate biological systems. These technologies enable early disease detection, personalized healthcare, and therapeutic intervention. Recently, the mismatch between rigid electronic components and dynamic, adaptive biological tissues has prompted a shift toward incorporating living materials (LMs) into bioelectronic systems. Living materials—comprising of live microorganisms—exhibit adaptive, responsive properties reminiscent of living systems. Being innately bioactive, adaptive and capable of sensing their environment, LMs serve as active platforms for biosensing and regenerative medicine. Their integration with bioelectronics offers a path toward soft, bioactive, and reconfigurable devices for disease management. This thesis investigates strategies for constructing living bioelectronic interfaces aimed at controlling inflammation and infection. Chapter 2 explores the use of LMs as bioactive interfacial components for immunomodulation. We developed a system called Active Bio-Integrated Living Electronics (ABLE), which combines a bioelectronic framework with a hydrogel composite encapsulating Staphylococcus epidermidis. This living interface enables microbial-driven intervention in psoriasis through the release of bioactive compounds. The hydrogel, prepared by thermally releasing amylose polymers, maintains bacterial viability through its viscoelastic extracellular matrix. When combined with electrophysiological and wireless sensors, ABLE enables simultaneous treatment and monitoring of inflammatory skin disease. Chapter 3 investigates how bioelectronics and LMs interact by studying microbial response at an electrified interface. Using a microelectronic platform, we uncovered an excitatory response in S. epidermidis, revealing that electrical stimuli from device can reversibly alter bacterial membrane potential. Remarkably, this excitability only emerged under acidic pH of healthy skin, suggesting that the bacterium’s electrical responsiveness is environmentally gated. This phenomenon enabled targeted suppression of xiii biofilm formation using low, non-lethal voltages—offering a programmable and energy-efficient strategy for infection control. Together, these studies demonstrate the potential of living biointerfaces in managing complex biological conditions. Looking forward, we anticipate that integration strategies between living and non-living components will continue to evolve, unlocking richer interactions and broader therapeutic applications