2016 Theses Doctoral

Hybrid Biological-Solid-State Sytems: Powering an Integrated Circuit from ATP

Roseman, Jared

This thesis presents a novel hybrid biological solid-state system which makes use of biological components in an in-vitro environment to produce functionality incapable by CMOS circuits alone. A "biocell" comprised of lipids and ion pumps is mated to a CMOS IC in a compact configuration and the IC is powered solely from adenosine triphosphate (ATP), often referred to as the 'life energy currency.' The biocell is a fuel cell that produces a membrane potential in the presence of ATP which is used by the IC as an electrical power supply. The design represents the first of a new class of devices combining both biological and solid-state components, which exploit the unique properties of transmembrane proteins in engineered solid-state systems. This work also suggests that the richness of function of biological ion channels and pumps, functionality that is impossible to achieve in CMOS alone, may be exploited in systems that combine engineered transmembrane proteins as biological components integrated with solid-state devices.