Nanopillar electrode devices and methods of recording action potentials
This disclosure provide a nanopillar electrode device, comprising a substrate patterned with a plurality of metal pads. The device may further comprise a plurality of nanopillars electrode arrays, wherein each nanopillar electrode array is attached to the substrate above a metal pad and electrically connected to the pad. The device may further comprise and a chamber surrounding the nanopillar electrodes, which can be used for culturing cells of interest for recording action potentials. The nanopillar electrode device may be configured to apply a voltage through the nanopillar electrodes from a voltage source. Nanopillar electroporation may be used to increase the permeability of cell membranes to allow intracellular recording. Also provided are methods of device fabrication, and methods of use.
1. A method for measuring membrane potentials from a cell using an electrode device, the method comprising:
placing an electrode array in contact with cell membrane of the cell such that a nano-scale electrode of the electrode array is engulfed by a portion of the membrane, the electrode array comprising a plurality of nano-scale electrodes that are vertically aligned in the electrode array;
recording extracellular signals of the cell using the nano-scale electrode, the extracellular signals indicating at least one action potential of the cell;
electroporating, using the nano-scale electrode, the cell to increase the permeability of the portion of the cell membrane engulfing the nano-scale electrode such that intracellular signals of the cell are recorded by the nano-scale electrode in response to the electroporation; and
recording the intracellular signals of the cell using the nano-scale electrode, the intracellular signals indicating one or more action potentials of the cell, wherein the electrode device comprising:
a substrate patterned with a plurality of metal pads;
a plurality of electrode arrays, each electrode array attached to the substrate above a metal pad and electrically connected to the metal pad; and
a chamber surrounding the plurality of nano-scale electrodes.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cell is selected from the group consisting of a neuron, a muscle cell, and an endocrine cell.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
switching between extracellular and intracellular recording by nano-scale electroporation via the nano-scale electrode.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the permeability of the cell membrane is permeability of the cell membrane to ions or electrons.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein electroporation is repeated for 20 pulses over a period of 1 second.