Membrane activity detection in cultured cells using phase-sensitive plasmonics

Abstract

Despite the existence of various neural recording and mapping techniques, there is an open territory for the emergence of novel techniques. The current neural imaging and recording techniques suffer from invasiveness, a time-consuming labeling process, poor spatial/ temporal resolution, and noisy signals. Among others, neuroplasmonics is a label-free and nontoxic recording technique with no issue of photo-bleaching or signal-averaging. We introduced an integrated plasmonic-ellipsometry platform for membrane activity detection with cost-effective and high-quality grating extracted from commercial DVDs. With ellipsometry technique, one can measure both amplitude (intensity) and phase difference of reflected light simultaneously with high signal to noise ratio close to surface plasmon resonances, which leads to the enhancement of sensitivity in plasmonic techniques. We cultured three different types of cells (primary hippocampal neurons, neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, and human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells) on the grating surface. By introducing KCl solution as a chemical stimulus, we can differentiate the neural activity of distinct cell types and observe the signaling event in a label-free, optical recording platform. This method has potential applications in recording neural signal activity without labeling and stimulation artifacts.

Effect of Methadone and Tramadol Opioids on Stem Cells Based on Integrated Plasmonic-Ellipsometry Technique

“…In this study, the chips were weakly fixed at the bottom of the plates and the cell attachment was satisfactory, similar to Saeidifard et al 30 so we did not use poly-L-lysine that was used in our previous study. 31…”

Glucose sensor based on ellipsometry and circular dichroism in achiral plasmonic structure

“…However, it is obvious that the phase sensitivity of SPR systems is much higher than their intensity sensitivity. In this regard, in our earlier works, we established and approved that enhancing SNR can help in detecting very low concentrations diseases at early stage by phase sensitive methods in tissue [10,11], texture or in membrane activity [12]. Correspondingly, this phase sensitive method, named as Plasmonic ellipsometry, is an optical technique that measures the amplitude and phase changes of linear polarizations in reflecting light radiated from the surface of a sensor chip.…”

Streptozotocin-induced Alzheimer's disease investigation by one-dimensional plasmonic grating chip

“…This technique provides data for individual neurons in vivo and in vitro with high spatial and temporal resolutions 18 . The benefits of neuroplasmonics are real-time, non-toxic, highly sensitive, offering label-free detection, and providing quantitative and qualitative data on the sensor’s sensitivity 19 .…”