Non-invasive action potential recordings using printed electrolyte-gated polymer field-effect transistors
Scalable and high-throughput platforms to non-invasively record the Action Potentials (APs) of excitable cells are highly demanded to accelerate disease diagnosis and drug discovery. AP recordings are typically achieved with the invasive and low-throughput patch clamp technique. Non-invasive alternatives like planar multielectrode arrays cannot record APs without membrane poration, preventing accurate measurements of disease states and drug effects. Here, we disclose reliable and non-invasive recording of APs with patch clamp-like quality from human stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes using an inkjet-printed polymer semiconductor in an Electrolyte-Gated Field-Effect Transistor configuration. High sensitivity is proven by the detection of drug-induced pro-arrhythmic membrane potential oscillations as early/delayed afterdepolarizations. The higher throughput potential of this platform could significantly enhance disease modelling, drug screening, safety pharmacology and the study of abiotic/biotic interfaces.
Authors
- Mario Caironi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0442-4439)
- Rosalia Moreddu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0332-1606)
- Fabrizio Antonio Viola (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8730-1118)
- Peter J. Schwartz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0367-1048)
- Gabriel Gomila (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1949-1757)
- Gabriele Tullii (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6595-3449)
- Adrica Kyndiah (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4668-6330)
- Carlotta Ronchi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7217-1146)
- Luca Sala (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4129-6632)
- Aleksandr Khudiakov (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9214-0868)
- Giuseppina Iachetta
- Maria Rosa Antognazza (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4599-2384)
- Stefano Chiodini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8842-9324)
- Giulia Zoe Zemignani
- Francesco De Angelis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6053-2488)
Institutions
- Italian Institute of Technology (IT)
- IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano (IT)
- Center for Nano Science and Technology (IT)
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (ES)
- Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IT)
- University of Southampton (GB)
- University of Milano-Bicocca (IT)
- Universitat de Barcelona (ES)
- Politecnico di Milano (IT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2025-08-31
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-63484-1
- Primary Topic
- Neuroscience and Neural Engineering
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Foundation for Cardiovascular Research
- Centres de Recerca de Catalunya
- European Commission
- Fondation Leducq
- Fondazione Cariplo
- Generalitat de Catalunya
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats