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Updated: Feb 13, 2026

Optical Control of Living Cells Electrical Activity by Conjugated Polymers
Published on: January 28, 2016
Graphene-polymer nanofibers enable optically induced electrical responses in stem cell-derived electrically excitable
Erin LaMontagne1, Alex Savchenko2, Gisselle Gonzalez1
1Shu Chien-Gene Lay Department of Bioengineering, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
Abstract:
Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived electrically excitable cells provide a unique window into development, but they remain electrically immature partially due to the lack of chronic stimulation. Here, we fabricated electrospun polymer nanofibers containing light-reactive reduced graphene oxide (rGO) as part of a new classes of on-demand, electrically active biomaterials to enhance cell function. Fiber size, stiffness, and electrical conductivity varied with rGO concentration, which impacted hPSC-derived cardiomyocyte and neuron responses; with acute light stimulation, cardiomyocytes exhibited increased, synchronous calcium handling. Long-term, daily nanofiber light stimulation improves brain organoid electrical activity and activates photoreceptor pathways. This work outlines a tunable method where electrical cell functions can be titrated with rGO fibers and light stimulation, and it suggests that repetitive light stimulation may provide a novel method for retinal differentiation.
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