Ultra‐Sharp Nanowire Arrays Natively Permeate, Record, and Stimulate Intracellular Activity in Neuronal and Cardiac Networks

Abstract

Intracellular access with high spatiotemporal resolution can enhance the understanding of how neurons or cardiomyocytes regulate and orchestrate network activity and how this activity can be affected with pharmacology or other interventional modalities. Nanoscale devices often employ electroporation to transiently permeate the cell membrane and record intracellular potentials, which tend to decrease rapidly with time. Here, one reports innovative scalable, vertical, ultrasharp nanowire arrays that are individually addressable to enable long‐term, native recordings of intracellular potentials. One reports electrophysiological recordings that are indicative of intracellular access from 3D tissue‐like networks of neurons and cardiomyocytes across recording days and that do not decrease to extracellular amplitudes for the duration of the recording of several minutes. The findings are validated with cross‐sectional microscopy, pharmacology, and electrical interventions. The experiments and simulations demonstrate that the individual electrical addressability of nanowires is necessary for high‐fidelity intracellular electrophysiological recordings. This study advances the understanding of and control over high‐quality multichannel intracellular recordings and paves the way toward predictive, high‐throughput, and low‐cost electrophysiological drug screening platforms.

Bioinspired two-in-one nanotransistor sensor for the simultaneous measurements of electrical and mechanical cellular responses

“…Following previous procedure (59), the CMs were first fixed on the substrate with 4% paraformaldehyde (Electron Microscopy Sciences) for 20 min and then dehydrated by treatments of ethanol of successively increasing concentrations (30,50,70,90, 100, 100, and 100%). After the dehydration, the CMs were treated with a critical point drying process (Samdri-PVT-3D, Tousimis) for 10 to 15 min.…”

High‐Aspect‐Ratio Nanoelectrodes Enable Long‐Term Recordings of Neuronal Signals with Subthreshold Resolution

“…Even with such advances, securing a stable and long-term recording with PSP resolution remains a major challenge. Namely, while there is an indication of PSP detection solely as a result of a tight engulfment or penetration, [6,30,31] the majority of subthreshold recordings utilize electroporation [4] or optoporation, [12] which provide an intracellular access for a limited amount of time. Among those, only the active poration recordings have been confirmed by simultaneous patch-clamp.…”

Generation of Human iPSC‐Derived Neurons on Nanowire Arrays Featuring Varying Lengths, Pitches, and Diameters

“…[28,29] Further, the strong coupling between the cell membrane and the substrate can also help to improve electrical recording and stimulation of microelectrode arrays that have been equipped with the nanostructures. [30] Also intrinsic material features of the NWs such as photoelectrochemical properties-either in arrays or free-standing, that is, detached from the substratecan be used to modulate neuronal or cardiac activity in vitro or as retina implants. [31,32] Another fundamental advantage of the NW arrays is the capability to support intracellular delivery by stimulated endocytosis or-in case of hollow NWs-by direct injection into the cell via electroporation.…”