Symposium SB06-The Interface of Optoelectronics and Biology

Engineering and structuring of the biotic/abiotic interface have enabled the coupling of active materials to a wide range of living systems at all hierarchical levels from cells to tissues, organs and sometimes whole organisms. The ability of materials (inorganic, organic and hybrids) to interface with living matter has been studied and developed for a plethora of applications ranging from elucidating cellular mechanisms to medical applications, evaluating disease phenotypes biomarkers, all the way to biohybrid robotics. Optimizing the materials to support these applications depends on a deep understanding of the phenomena taking place at the biotic/abiotic interface. Importantly, these phenomena are highly specific to the stimulus type (electrical, mechanical, optical, ultrasound) and to the shape of the interface.
A large number of innovative methods and devices for directly stimulating, sensing, and supporting biotic systems have been recently reported. However, by and large these technologies were developed empirically rather than emphasizing an understanding of the fundamental principles governing the complex biological environment of the biotic/abiotic interface. The focus of the symposium will be on materials suitable for such a coupling, with attention to methodologies, experiments, and results that contribute to a deeper understanding and exploitation of the physiochemical mechanisms occurring at the interface. Expected contributions will include nano-structured devices and interfaces, both organic and inorganic, molecules and nanoparticles for phototransduction, bio-hybrid robotics platforms, living materials, sensing, and electron-ion transduction.
A broad multidisciplinary audience is expected to attend the symposium, including materials scientists and engineers, biologists, physicists, chemists, as well as neuroscientists from academia, national laboratories, and industry. We will pay particular attention to ensuring a well-balanced selection of invited speakers regarding gender representation (with at least 50% female speakers), geographical diversity (representing all five continents), and career stage.

biomaterial electrical properties multiscale optical properties tissue