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Graphene-based optoelectrochemical sensor for the simultaneous monitoring of the electrical and chemical activity of single cells

Subject Area Analytical Chemistry
Experimental Condensed Matter Physics
Term from 2015 to 2020
Project identifier Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 279144839
 
Final Report Year 2020

Final Report Abstract

Developing a tool that allows observing both the electrical and the chemical signals of living cells is one of the great challenges current research is focused on. Such a tool would be extremely helpful in deciphering the biochemical background of different diseases and in developing the appropriate treatment for those diseases. Therefore, Graphtivity set out to use graphene in developing novel tools to simultaneously ob‐ serve the electrical and chemical activity of living cells. As a very important particularity, Graphitivity ex‐ plored the possibility to observe cellular signals with opto‐electrochemical methods, that is, methods in which interfaces are perturbed electrochemically but observed optically (e.g., with surface plasmon reso‐ nance‐based imaging, SPRi) in order to gain spatial resolution down to the single cell dimensions. Several interfaces were developed (e.g., based on stacks with a thin layer of indium tin oxide, ITO) which are compatible not only with electrochemical methods but also with optical methods. These interfaces were modified with graphene or graphene‐based composites following several procedures and used with two purposes. First, they were used to detect signaling molecules (e.g., neurotransmitters such as dopamine). Second, they were used as substrate for cell adhesion, growth, and differentiation. In parallel, we deve‐ loped tools (e.g., microfluidic systems made of polydimethylsiloxanes, PDMS) for placing cells and sensing chemistries in well‐defined positions of our planar chips / interfaces, thus making their controlled investigation (and combined use) easier. Although SPRi proved to be not sensitive enough to facilitate observing signals from living cells, when this method was combined with an electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)‐specific, sinusoidal potential perturbation, it did allow making some of the highest spatial resolution (~ 500 nm) maps of the electrical impedance of living cells. When SPRi was replaced with reflected bright field microscopy (RBFM), the opto‐electrochemical detection of glucose and hydrogen peroxide was also possible. The opto‐electrochemical sensor for glucose sensing was also used at cellular level, however, improvements are still required. Results obtained with novel opto‐electrochemical approaches were compared with those obtained by more traditional methods whenever possible. To conclude, Graphtivity generated results which help defining the roles of both graphene and opto‐electrochemical methods in interfaces / sensors for living cells. In the same time, it strengthened the collaboration between partners from different fields and countries (as demonstrated by more than 9 papers jointly authored by 2 or more project partners), and opened research avenues worth pursuing.

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