Graphene and nanowire transistors for cellular interfaces and electrical recording

Area of Science:

• Bioelectronics
• Materials Science
• Cellular Neuroscience

Background:

• Nanowire field-effect transistors (NW-FETs) excel at bioelectronic interfaces due to sensitivity and cell coupling.
• Graphene shows promise for nanoscale electronics, but its cellular interfaces are less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate graphene field-effect transistors (Gra-FETs) and combined Gra-FET/NW-FET systems for interfacing with electrogenic cells.
• To characterize the performance and limitations of Gra-FETs and NW-FETs in extracellular recording.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication and testing of Gra-FETs and combined Gra-FET/NW-FET devices interfaced with embryonic chicken cardiomyocytes.
• Recording extracellular signals using Gra-FETs and varying water gate potential (Vwg) to tune device performance.
• Comparing signal characteristics (amplitude, polarity, width) and resolution of Gra-FETs and NW-FETs.

Main Results:

• Gra-FETs provide well-defined extracellular signals from cardiomyocytes with high signal-to-noise ratios (>4).
• Signal amplitude is tunable via Vwg, demonstrating a robust graphene/cell interface and enabling n- and p-type recording from the same device.
• Signal width correlates with Gra-FET area, indicating signal averaging, while NW-FETs reveal limitations in temporal resolution and multiplexing.

Conclusions:

• Gra-FETs represent a novel, robust platform for cellular bioelectronic interfaces, offering tunable recording capabilities.
• The distinct characteristics of Gra-FETs and NW-FETs offer complementary advantages for advanced bioelectronic applications.
• This study pioneers the use of Gra-FETs for cellular recording and highlights their potential in bioelectronics.