Conductive Fibers of Chitosan/DNA Interfacial Polyelectrolyte Complexation Incorporating Carbon Nanotubes

Conductive fibers hold considerable potential in wearable electronics, soft robotics, and flexible sensing platforms. However, conventional fabrication typically relies on specialized instrumentation and high-temperature processing, limiting accessibility and sustainability. Herein, we present conductive fibers composed of chitosan and DNA-carbon nanotubes (CNTs) prepared via interfacial polyelectrolyte complexation (IPC). This simple, low-energy method requires neither complex instrumentation nor thermal treatment. The resulting IPC fibers exhibited stable electrical conductivity, which was attributed to interactions between DNA and CNTs. Notably, the conductive fibers demonstrated self-healing capability, wherein severed segments rejoined upon hydration with restoration of conductivity. In addition, the fiber demonstrated conductivity and stretchability in the wet state, enabling the monitoring of strain-induced current changes for motion tracking capture. Furthermore, Janus fibers were fabricated by aligning the fibers with magnetic beads in parallel, yielding conductive/magnetic hybrids that demonstrated electrical switching under remote magnetic actuation. Collectively, these findings highlight a scalable and sustainable strategy for fabricating reconfigurable conductive fibers for biointerfaced and flexible electronics.