A Polymer Bio–Photoelectrolytic Platform for Electrical Signal Measurement and for Light Modulation of Ion Fluxes and Proliferation in a Neuroblastoma Cell Line

Light control of living systems is an emerging field in bioelectronics, in regenerative medicine and cell-based therapy. Herein, the design of a semitransparent bio–photoelectrolytic platform for control of a neuroblastoma cell line via light pulses is laid out. The platform is based on conjugated polymer films interfaced with a biological electrolyte solution confined in a compact chamber. Human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells are cultured for 3 days on the organic semiconductor and subjected to a pulsed light protocol. At the end of the culture time, proliferative activity of cells on the polymer film subjected to light pulses is reduced by 50% compared to the cultures kept in dark. An increase in intracellular Ca2+ level is observed, indicating a significant perturbation of the equilibrium potential of the cells. It is shown that the platform, in a sandwich-type closed architecture with two transparent electrodes, can provide a tool for the initial recording of bioelectrical photovoltage signals (mV) that can complement analysis with more sophisticated electrophysiological tools. Obtained results can pave the way to new noninvasive photomanipulation techniques to stimulate/control living cells and their proliferation through both optical and electrical stimulation and probes, for application in the fields of biosensing and biomedicine.