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Updated: Jun 2, 2025

Imaging Membrane Potential with Two Types of Genetically Encoded Fluorescent Voltage Sensors
Published on: February 4, 2016
From resting potential to dynamics: advances in membrane voltage indicators and imaging techniques
Reyhaneh Shakibi1,2,3, Fatemeh Yazdipour1,2, Hamed Abadijoo1,2,4
1Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract:
The membrane potential is a critical aspect of cellular physiology, essential for maintaining homeostasis, facilitating signal transduction, and driving various cellular processes. While the resting membrane potential (RMP) represents a key physiological parameter, membrane potential fluctuations, such as depolarization and hyperpolarization, are equally vital in understanding dynamic cellular behavior. Traditional techniques, such as microelectrodes and patch-clamp methods, offer valuable insights but are invasive and less suited for high-throughput applications. Recent advances in voltage indicators, including fast and slow dyes, and novel imaging modalities such as second harmonic generation (SHG) and photoacoustic imaging, enable noninvasive, high-resolution measurement of both RMP and membrane potential dynamics. This review explores the mechanisms, development, and applications of these tools, emphasizing their transformative potential in neuroscience and cellular electrophysiology research.
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