Bioelectronic medicine is a treatment modality that uses electricity to treat disease by altering the body's electrical communication systems. All cells are electrically active, in that they possess bioelectric circuitry generating a resting membrane potential and endogenous electric fields that influence cell functions and communication. There is now an accepted paradigm that cancer is characterized by malfunctions in cells' bioelectrical circuitry. This yields opportunities for bioelectronic medicine as novel treatments for cancer by manipulating its bioelectrical properties. To highlight the possibilities a bioelectrical approach can offer cancer therapy, the relevance of bioelectrical activity in cancer is reviewed and also how such activity can be hijacked in novel treatments. This includes sensing or measuring the electrical activity of cells for diagnostic and prognostic applications, controlling or altering bioelectricity including both ionic and faradaic current processes, and eliciting morphological changes using electric fields. Importantly, key links between cellular ionic and faradaic processes that contribute to cancer phenotypes are presented, which if considered and understood as a whole, can bring broad-reaching improvements to cancer therapy.

Bioelectronic medicine aims to interface electronic technology with biological components and design more effective therapeutic and diagnostic tools. Advances in nanotechnology have moved the field forward improving the seamless interaction between biological and electronic components. In the lab many of these nanobioelectronic devices have the potential to improve current treatment approaches, including those for cancer, cardiovascular disorders, and disease underpinned by malfunctions in neuronal electrical communication. While promising, many of these devices and technologies require further development before they can be successfully applied in a clinical setting. Here, we highlight recent work which is close to achieving this goal, including discussion of nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, and nanowires for medical applications. We also look forward toward the next decade to determine how current developments in nanotechnology could shape the growing field of bioelectronic medicine. This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology Diagnostic Tools > Biosensing

Merging of electronics with biology, defined as bioelectronics, at the nanoscale holds considerable promise for sensing and modulating cellular behavior. Advancing our understanding of nanobioelectronics will facilitate development and enable applications in biosensing, tissue engineering, and bioelectronic medicine. However, studies investigating the electrical effects when merging wireless conductive nanoelectrodes with biology are lacking. Consequently, a tool is required to develop a greater understanding of merging conductive nanoparticles with cells. Herein, this challenge is addressed by developing an impedimetric method to evaluate bipolar electrode (BPE) systems that could report on electrical input. A theoretical framework is provided, using impedance to determine if conductive nanoparticles can be polarized and used to drive current. It is then demonstrated that 125 nm of gold nanoparticle (AuNP) bipolar electrodes (BPEs) could be sensed in the presence of cells when incorporated intracellularly at 500 μg/mL using water and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) as electrolytes. These results highlight how nanoscale BPEs act within biological systems. This research will impact the rational design of using BPE systems in cells for both sensing and actuating applications.

<p>The merging of electronics with biology at the nanoscale holds considerable promise for sensing and modulating cellular behavior. Advancing our understanding of nano-bioelectronics will facilitate development and enable applications in biosensing, tissue engineering and bioelectronic medicine. However, studies investigating the electrical effects when merging wireless conductive nanoelectrodes with biology are lacking. Consequently, a new tool is required to develop a greater understanding of the bioelectrical effects of merging conductive nanoparticles with biology. Herein, this challenge is addressed by developing an impedimetric method to evaluate bipolar electrochemical systems (BESs) that could act as nano-antennas. A theoretical framework is provided, using impedance to determine if conductive nanoparticles can be polarized and used to drive current. It is then demonstrated that 125 nm Au nanoparticle bipolar electrodes (BPEs) could be sensed with biology when incorporated extracellularly. These results highlight how nanoscale BPEs act in biology and characterize their behavior in electric fields. This research will impact on the rational design of using BPE systems in biology for both sensing and actuating applications.</p>

<p>The merging of electronics with biology at the nanoscale holds considerable promise for sensing and modulating cellular behavior. Advancing our understanding of nano-bioelectronics will facilitate development and enable applications in biosensing, tissue engineering and bioelectronic medicine. However, studies investigating the electrical effects when merging wireless conductive nanoelectrodes with biology are lacking. Consequently, a new tool is required to develop a greater understanding of the bioelectrical effects of merging conductive nanoparticles with biology. Herein, this challenge is addressed by developing an impedimetric method to evaluate bipolar electrochemical systems (BESs) that could act as nano-antennas. A theoretical framework is provided, using impedance to determine if conductive nanoparticles can be polarized and used to drive current. It is then demonstrated that 125 nm Au nanoparticle bipolar electrodes (BPEs) could be sensed with biology when incorporated extracellularly. These results highlight how nanoscale BPEs act in biology and characterize their behavior in electric fields. This research will impact on the rational design of using BPE systems in biology for both sensing and actuating applications.</p>