Talking to Cells: Semiconductor Nanomaterials at the Cellular Interface

Abstract

The interface of biological components with semiconductors is a growing field with numerous applications. For example, the interfaces can be used to sense and modulate the electrical activity of single cells and tissues. From the materials point of view, silicon is the ideal option for such studies due to its controlled chemical synthesis, scalable lithography for functional devices, excellent electronic and optical properties, biocompatibility and biodegradability. Recent advances in this area are pushing the bio-interfaces from the tissue and organ level to the single cell and sub-cellular regimes. In this progress report, we will describe some fundamental studies focusing on miniaturizing the bioelectric and biomechanical interfaces. Additionally, many of our highlighted examples involve freestanding silicon-based nanoscale systems, in addition to substrate-bound structures or devices; the former offers new promise for basic research and clinical application. In this report, we will describe recent developments in the interfacing of neuronal and cardiac cells and their networks. Moreover, we will briefly discuss the incorporation of semiconductor nanostructures for interfacing non-excitable cells in applications such as probing intracellular force dynamics and drug delivery. Finally, we will suggest several directions for future exploration.

Light‐Responsive Inorganic Biomaterials for Biomedical Applications

“…Quantum dots (QDs) and semiconductor nanomaterials have been applied to stimulate electrical triggerable cells. [26] These light-responsive nanomaterials could provide a platform to study how thermal or electrical stimulation controls the subcellular activity of gene transcription and protein signaling pathways. [27] Moreover, external electrical stimulation, delivered by traditional bioelectrodes, has been used in treating several clinical symptoms of electrophysiological nature, such as cardiac arrhythmias and Parkinson's disease.…”

On the Interaction between 1D Materials and Living Cells

“…Silicon NWs and NTs have been widely demonstrated as key materials to build-up functional interfaces for bioelectronics [ 5 , 7 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 ], allowing for cutting-edge applications in subcellular biointerfaces [ 37 , 38 ]. The first application of Si NWs in bioelectronics emerged in 2006 by Patolsky and co-workers, in the form of open gate Si NW field-effect transistors (FETs) to record extracellular events from rat neurons [ 39 ].…”

“…The monitoring and manipulation of living cells by sub-cellular sized interfaces within platforms that mimic in vivo conditions represent an emerging field of research in materials science. These knowledge-platforms enable the measurement of cellular activities even at the single-cell resolution [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ], allowing to regulate differentiation fate [ 6 ], producing intracellular cascades, and stimulating cellular communication across multiple length scales [ 7 ]. In this context, a fundamental role is played by the engineering of material interfaces, to achieve efficient coupling with cellular systems to recapitulate the in vivo scenario into a cell culture dish.…”

Nanoneedle Platforms: The Many Ways to Pierce the Cell Membrane

“…In the past decades, micro/nanofabrication technology has enabled the proliferation of numerous nanoscale devices designed to access the cell interior. [ 27–30 ] In particular, thin 1D nanostructures, known as nanoneedles or nanowires (NWs), seem to readily penetrate the cell membrane by generating highly localized stresses due to their sharp nanofeatures (diameter of 1–100 nm). [ 31–34 ] Cell penetrating platforms can be differentiated by the number of nanoneedles used and the individual functionality of each nanoneedle.…”