Nanovolcano microelectrode arrays: toward long-term on-demand registration of transmembrane action potentials by controlled electroporation.

Volcano-shaped microelectrodes (nanovolcanoes) functionalized with nanopatterned self-assembled monolayers have recently been demonstrated to report cardiomyocyte action potentials after gaining spontaneous intracellular access. These nanovolcanoes exhibit recording characteristics similar to those of state-of-the-art micro-nanoelectrode arrays that use electroporation as an insertion mechanism. In this study, we investigated whether the use of electroporation improves the performance of nanovolcano arrays in terms of action potential amplitudes, recording durations, and yield.

Advancing mechanobiology by performing whole-cell patch clamp recording on mechanosensitive cells subjected simultaneously to dynamic stretch events.

A comprehensive understanding of mechano-electrical coupling requires continuous intracellular electrical recordings being performed on cells undergoing simultaneously like strain events. Here, we introduce a linear strain single-cell electrophysiology (LSSE) system that meets these requirements by delivering highly reproducible unidirectional strain events with magnitudes up to 12% and strain rates exceeding 200%s to adherent cells kept simultaneously in whole-cell patch-clamp recording configuration. Proof-of-concept measurements with NIH3T3 cells demonstrate that stable recording conditions are maintained over tens of strain cycles at maximal amplitudes and strain rates thereby permitting a full electrophysiological characterization of mechanically activated ion currents.

High-speed mechano-active multielectrode array for investigating rapid stretch effects on cardiac tissue.

Systematic investigations of the effects of mechano-electric coupling (MEC) on cellular cardiac electrophysiology lack experimental systems suitable to subject tissues to in-vivo like strain patterns while simultaneously reporting changes in electrical activation. Here, we describe a self-contained motor-less device (mechano-active multielectrode-array, MaMEA) that permits the assessment of impulse conduction along bioengineered strands of cardiac tissue in response to dynamic strain cycles. The device is based on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) cell culture substrates patterned with dielectric actuators (DEAs) and compliant gold ion-implanted extracellular electrodes.