RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Label-free optical detection of bioelectric potentials using electrochromic thin films
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2020.05.16.099002
DO 10.1101/2020.05.16.099002
A1 Felix S. Alfonso
A1 Yuecheng Zhou
A1 Erica Liu
A1 Allister F. McGuire
A1 Yang Yang
A1 Husniye Kantarci
A1 Dong Li
A1 Eric Copenhaver
A1 J. Bradley Zuchero
A1 Holger Müller
A1 Bianxiao Cui
YR 2020
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/05/17/2020.05.16.099002.abstract
AB Understanding how a network of interconnected neurons receives, stores, and processes information in the human brain is one of the outstanding scientific challenges of our time. The ability to reliably detect neuroelectric activities is essential to addressing this challenge. Optical recording using voltage-sensitive fluorescent probes has provided unprecedented flexibility for choosing regions of interest in recording neuronal activities. However, when recording at a high frame rate such as 500-1000 Hz, fluorescence-based voltage sensors often suffer from photobleaching and phototoxicity, which limit the recording duration. Here, we report a new approach, Electro-Chromic Optical REcording (ECORE), that achieves label-free optical recording of spontaneous neuroelectrical activities. ECORE utilizes the electrochromism of PEDOT:PSS thin films, whose optical absorption can be modulated by an applied voltage. Being based on optical reflection instead of fluorescence, ECORE offers the flexibility of an optical probe without suffering from photobleaching or phototoxicity. Using ECORE, we optically recorded spontaneous action potentials in cardiomyocytes, cultured hippocampal and dorsal root ganglion neurons, and brain slices. With minimal perturbation to cells, ECORE allows long-term optical recording over multiple days.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.