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Minimally invasive current-controlled electrical stimulation system for bacteria using highly capacitive conducting
Daiki Makino1, Aoba Ueki1, Hirotaka Matsumoto2
1Graduate School of Organic Materials Science, Yamagata University, 4-3-16 Jonan, Yonezawa, Yamagata 992-8510, Japan.
Bioelectrochemistry (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
|October 24, 2022
Summary
Researchers developed a new electrical stimulation system using a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) electrode to study bacterial membrane potential in Bacillus subtilis. This method successfully controlled bacterial cell membrane potential with minimal invasiveness.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biophysics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Bacterial membrane potential is crucial for cellular functions.
- Controlling membrane potential non-invasively is challenging.
- Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) offers unique electrochemical properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a minimally invasive system for characterizing bacterial membrane potential dynamics.
- To investigate the effects of electrical stimulation on Bacillus subtilis membrane potential.
- To determine the threshold charge density for bacterial excitation.
Main Methods:
- A current-controlled electrical stimulation system was designed.
- A poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)-modified electrode was utilized.
- The system was used to stimulate Bacillus subtilis and measure membrane potential changes.
Main Results:
- The PEDOT-modified electrode facilitated large ionic charge injection, suppressing pH changes.
- Electrical stimulation induced a hyperpolarization response in B. subtilis.
- The threshold charge density for exciting B. subtilis was estimated at 530.8 µC cm⁻².
Conclusions:
- The developed system allows for minimal invasive control of bacterial membrane potential.
- This study provides the first quantitative estimation of the charge density required to excite B. subtilis.
- The findings offer insights into the electrical excitability of bacterial cells.
