Journal Article

A transparent organic transistor structure for bidirectional stimulation and recording of primary neurons

Saguatti, Davide, Stefani, Andrea, Toffanin, Stefano, Turatti, Guido, Chiappalone, Michela, Pistone, Assunta, Ruani, Giampiero, Sagnella, Anna, Bonetti, Simone, Zamboni, Roberto, Generali, Gianluca, Benfenati, Valentina, Muccini, Michele

2013

Overview

Real-time stimulation and recording of neural cell bioelectrical activity could provide an unprecedented insight in understanding the functions of the nervous system, and it is crucial for developing advanced in vitro drug screening approaches. Among organic materials, suitable candidates for cell interfacing can be found that combine long-term biocompatibility and mechanical flexibility. Here, we report on transparent organic cell stimulating and sensing transistors (O-CSTs), which provide bidirectional stimulation and recording of primary neurons. We demonstrate that the device enables depolarization and hyperpolarization of the primary neuron membrane potential. The transparency of the device also allows the optical imaging of the modulation of the neuron bioelectrical activity. The maximal amplitude-to-noise ratio of the extracellular recording achieved by the O-CST device exceeds that of a microelectrode array system on the same neuronal preparation by a factor of 16. Our organic cell stimulating and sensing device paves the way to a new generation of devices for stimulation, manipulation and recording of cell bioelectrical activity in vitro and in vivo . A transparent organic field-effect transistor allows the stimulation and recording of the bioelectrical activity of primary neural cells. The cells grow, differentiate and function on the device, which then provides the electrical stimulation, and enables the recording of extracellular current and optical imaging of the modulation of neuronal membrane potential.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group UK,Nature Publishing Group
• Subject: 631/378/1697 / 639/301/1005/1009 / Action Potentials - physiology / Animals / Bidirectional / Biocompatibility / Biomaterials / Cells, Cultured / Condensed Matter Physics / Devices / Electric Stimulation - instrumentation / Electrodes, Implanted / Equipment Design / Equipment Failure Analysis / In vitro testing / Materials Science / Microelectrodes / Nanotechnology / Neurons / Neurons - physiology / Optical and Electronic Materials / Organic chemicals / Organic Chemicals - chemistry / Rats / Recording / Refractometry - instrumentation / Stimulation / Transistors / Transistors, Electronic