Delivery of Cargo with a Bioelectronic Trigger.

Area of Science:

• Bioelectronics
• Cellular signaling
• Biomaterials

Background:

• Biological systems rely on chemical signals for information exchange.
• Controlling cellular behavior requires precise delivery of molecular signals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a novel bioelectronic method for triggered chemical delivery into cells.
• To establish a proof-of-concept for real-time control of cellular systems using bioelectronic triggers.

Main Methods:

• Utilized acid-sensitive microparticles loaded with fluorescein diacetate.
• Employed a bioelectronic device to induce a localized low pH environment.
• Observed uptake of fluorescein diacetate by cardiac fibroblast cells (CFs) and subsequent conversion to fluorescein.

Main Results:

• The bioelectronic device successfully triggered the release of fluorescein diacetate from microparticles by inducing low pH.
• Cardiac fibroblast cells internalized the released fluorescein diacetate.
• Internalized fluorescein diacetate was converted to fluorescein, resulting in a detectable fluorescent signal within the cells.

Conclusions:

• This study presents a viable bioelectronic triggered delivery system for chemical signals.
• The developed system enables real-time monitoring of cellular responses via fluorescence.
• This technology holds potential for future applications in programming and controlling cells and cell systems.