Imaging with Optogenetically Engineered Living Cells as a Photodetector

Abstract

Biosyncretic systems integrating biological components with electromechanical devices have recently become a promising technology, in which biological components are used as actuators or sensing elements with higher‐level performance than artificial systems. Here, a biosyncretic imaging system using an optogenetically engineered living cell as a photodetector is shown. The photoresponsive properties of the cell, such as spectrum and response range, dynamic characteristics, are measured and indicate that the cell functions as an excellent photodetector. In the system, the cell is directly utilized to generate light‐triggered ionic currents, which encode the spatial image information and therefore are used to reconstruct the scenes under the view based on compressive sensing. Imaging with the cell‐based photodetector is successfully performed by acquiring high‐definition images using the system. The system also displays function superiority to a commercial photodiode, such as wider dynamic responsivity range. This work represents a step toward directly imaging with living materials and paves a new road for the development of future on‐body bionic devices.

HectoSTAR μLED Optoelectrodes for Large‐Scale, High‐Precision In Vivo Opto‐Electrophysiology

“…[ 11 , 12 ] A deeper understanding of how specific neural patterns, or the activity of individual neurons give rise to behavioral and cognitive functions, however, requires an additional capability to precisely perturb the activity of the specific neuronal subset. A powerful perturbation method is optogenetics, [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ] and the development of optoelectrodes [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ] paved the way forward to a more precise interrogation of neural circuit function.…”

Green Alga-Inspired Underwater Vision Based on Light-Driven Active Ion Transport across Janus Dual-Field Heterostructures

“…25 Recently, genetically engineered living cells with photoreceptors were employed for high-definition imaging taking advantage of light-to-ionic signal conversion. 30 However, living cells are hugely limited by their electrolyte environments, and lipid bilayers are rather fragile, hindering the corresponding practical applications. Meanwhile, increasingly maturing nano- fluidic membranes with finely mediated nanochannels for manipulatable ion transport provide a platform for artificial visual systems.…”

“…Inspired by these biological ion channels, their counterparts − with similar sensing abilities are developed, including the thermosensation based on unidirectional cation transport against a thermal gradient through 2D nanochannels assembled by MXene nanosheets with photothermal property, , the tactile sensation based on directional cation transport caused by external pressure stimuli through 2D nanochannels assembled by reduced graphene oxide nanosheets and ultra-mechanosensitive chloride ion transport through high-density elastomeric channels assembled by polyisoprene- b -poly4-vinylpyridine, , and the olfactory sensation based on a single CO 2 -gated ion channel through decorating CO 2 -responsive molecules (i.e., 1-(4-amino-phenyl)-2,2,2-trifluoro­ethanone) on a conical nanochannel . Recently, genetically engineered living cells with photoreceptors were employed for high-definition imaging taking advantage of light-to-ionic signal conversion . However, living cells are hugely limited by their electrolyte environments, and lipid bilayers are rather fragile, hindering the corresponding practical applications.…”