He and his group have been studying reflectin to discern how it enables squid to change colour and reflect light. They produced the squid protein in common bacteria and used it to make thin films on a silicon substrate. Via metal electrodes that contacted the film, the researchers observed the relationship between current and voltage under various conditions. They found that the protein reflectin is almost as effective at transporting protons as many of the best artificial materials.

Gorodetsky believes reflectin has several advantages for biological electronics. Since it is a soft biomaterial, reflectin is able to conform to flexible surfaces, and it may be less likely to be rejected by the human body. In addition, protein engineering principles could be utilized to modify reflectin for very specific purposes and to allow the protein to decompose when no longer needed.

"We plan to use reflectin as a template for the development of improved ion- and proton-conducting materials," Gorodetsky said. "We hope to evolve this protein for optimum functionality in specific devices - such as transistors used for interfacing with neural cells - similar to how proteins evolve for specific tasks in nature."