Three-dimensional transistor arrays for intra- and inter-cellular recording

Electrical impulse generation and its conduction within cells or cellular networks are the cornerstone of electrophysiology. However, the advancement of the field is slowed down by limitations on sensing accuracy and scalability of current recording technologies. Here we describe a scalable and customizable sensing platform that enables accurate recording of transmembrane potentials in electrogenic cells. The platform employs a three-dimensional (3D) high-performance field-effect transistor (FET) array on an elastomeric substrate to enable minimally invasive cellular interfacing, producing faithful recordings as validated by the gold standard patch-clamp. Leveraging the high spatial and temporal resolutions of the FETs, we directly measure, for the first time, the intracellular signal conduction velocity of a cardiomyocyte (0.182 m·s-1), which is about five times the intercellular conduction velocity reported previously. We also demonstrate for the first time intracellular recordings of cardiomyocytes in cardiac muscle tissue constructs and reveal the signal conduction paths. This platform technology will provide new capabilities in probing electrical behaviors of single cells and cellular networks, which carries broad implications for understanding cellular physiology, disease pathology, and cell-cell interactions.