Yeast biofilm synapse: an intra-kingdom pathway to high-density current output in bioelectronic devices

Abstract

The quest to understand and harness microbial biofilms for energy generation has become increasingly important in the development of bioelectronic devices. Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a model organism, provides unique insights into how biofilms coordinate metabolic activities via extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Beyond serving as a structural scaffold, EPS facilitates electrochemical signalling, enabling cellular communication and optimized electron transfer. This study demonstrates that encapsulating Saccharomyces cerevisiae in a hydrogel matrix enhances biofilm organization and significantly boosts bioelectricity generation, leveraging EPS as an electrochemical communication network. The concept of a “yeast synapse” is introduced, drawing parallels between microbial biofilms and synaptic signalling observed in higher organisms, with coordinated electron transfer and metabolic synchronization. It can drive advancements in bioelectrochemical system design and enhance the current output of sustainable bioelectronic devices.