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Interfacing bacteria as biocatalysts with an electrode provides the basis for emerging bioelectrochemical systems that enable sustainable energy interconversion between electrical and chemical energy. Electron transfer rates at the abiotic‐biotic interface are, however, often limited by poor electrical contacts and the intrinsically insulating cell membranes. Herein, we report the first example of an n‐type redox‐active conjugated oligoelectrolyte, namely COE‐NDI, which spontaneously intercalates into cell membranes and mimics the function of endogenous transmembrane electron transport proteins. The incorporation of COE‐NDI into Shewanella oneidensis MR‐1 cells amplifies current uptake from the electrode by 4‐fold, resulting in the enhanced bio‐electroreduction of fumarate to succinate. Moreover, COE‐NDI can serve as a "protein prosthetic" to rescue current uptake in non‐electrogenic knockout mutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioelectrochemical systems hold the promise of enabling sustainable microbial‐mediated energy interconversion between electrical and chemical energy. Herein, it is demonstrated how a single conjugated polymer can be used to enhance bidirectional extracellular electron transfer through forming self‐assembled coatings on individual cells. Specifically, the n‐type conjugated polyelectrolyte p(cNDI‐gT2) exhibits a reduction potential window between −0.1 and −0.8 V (vs Ag/AgCl), thereby driving thermodynamically favored electron transfer in both directions across the abiotic‐biotic interface that involves the outer membrane cytochromes and flavins of Shewanella oneidensis MR‐1. Electrochemical tests show that injection from an external electrode into Shewanella oneidensis MR‐1 is enabled at negative potentials (−0.6 V), while electron extraction is possible at positive potentials (0.2 V). Relative to controls, the biohybrid shows a sixfold increase in biocurrent generation and a 35‐fold increase in current uptake for the bioelectrosynthesis of succinate from fumarate. This demonstrated abiotic‐biotic synergy provides new strategies for designing multifunctional biohybrids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Back Cover: An n-Type Conjugated Oligoelectrolyte Mimics Transmembrane Electron Transport Proteins for Enhanced Microbial Electrosynthesis (Angew. Keywords: Biocatalysis; Biohybrid; Conjugated Oligoelectrolyte; Energy Conversion; Microbial Electrosynthesis EN Biocatalysis Biohybrid Conjugated Oligoelectrolyte Energy Conversion Microbial Electrosynthesis 1 1 1 08/10/23 20230814 NES 230814 B Microbial electrosynthesis b is a sustainable strategy for electricity-driven chemical production. Biocatalysis, Biohybrid, Conjugated Oligoelectrolyte, Energy Conversion, Microbial Electrosynthesis. [Extracted from the article]

In their Communication (e202305189), Guillermo C. Bazan et al. designed an n-type redox-active conjugated oligoelectrolyte (COE) that intercalates into cell membranes and mimics the function of endogenous transmembrane electron transport proteins. Biocatalysis, Biohybrid, Conjugated Oligoelectrolyte, Energy Conversion, Microbial Electrosynthesis Keywords: Biocatalysis; Biohybrid; Conjugated Oligoelectrolyte; Energy Conversion; Microbial Electrosynthesis EN Biocatalysis Biohybrid Conjugated Oligoelectrolyte Energy Conversion Microbial Electrosynthesis 1 1 1 08/09/23 20230814 NES 230814 B Microbial electrosynthesis b is a sustainable strategy for electricity-driven chemical production. [Extracted from the article]