Bioinspiration for bioiontronics

Ions and small molecules form the basic language of biology, enabling numerous biological signaling activities. Biology has used the language of ions since the beginning of life, and scientists are only now beginning to catch up. The field of bioiontronics is emerging, aiming to communicate with living matter through ions and molecules for the detection and modulation of biological activities. Bioiontronics is an interdisciplinary field that originates from iontronics, the active control of ion transport. Specifically, bioiontronics refers to iontronic devices that interface with biological systems, incorporate biological components, or employ biomimetic designs. Therefore, understanding the ionic nature of biological systems is essential to bioiontronics and may inspire future breakthroughs. Here, we summarize ionic phenomena across different biological scales and examine their ionic mechanisms. We further summarize the bioinspired endeavors of bioiontronics, including energy harvesting and storage, sensing, signal processing, and biointerfaces. Finally, we outline the potential applications and challenges of mimicking natural ionic processes. The Review serves both as a source of information and as a benchmark and encouragement for further bioiontronic developments.