Electrochromic optical recording (ECORE)

Optical recording of bioelectric potentials based on electrochromic materials

Understanding how a network of interconnected neurons receives, stores, and processes information is one of the outstanding scientific challenges of our time. The ability to reliably detect multiple neuroelectric activities and monitor them over a long time is essential for addressing this challenge. Individual electrodes or multielectrode arrays can be used, but these approaches are limited in recording duration and offer only limited ability to pick the location whose potential is being recorded “on the fly”. Optical methods can offer flexible multichannel readout, but often implant “labels,” such as fluorescent molecules, into the cells under observation. 

We are developing a new approach, based on the fact that some materials change color in response to applied voltages - electrochromism. An electrochromic thin film (e.g., PEDOT:PSS) transduces bioelectric signals into local color changes. These are read out with high spatial resolution by using sensitive laser methods. This approach is label-free and allows long-term recording of spontaneous neuroelectric activities. We are providing shot-noise limited methods to measure the tiny absorption changes of the film at multiple recording locations, and are working on increasing the spatial resolution, sensitivity, and versatility of the method.  

Team members

Burhan Ahmed

Kenneth Nakasone

Publications

  1. Optical Electrophysiology: Toward the Goal of Label-Free Voltage Imaging. Yuecheng Zhou, Erica Liu, Holger Müller, and Bianxiao Cui. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 143, 28, 10482–10499 (2021).

  2. Label-free optical detection of bioelectric potentials using electrochromic thin films. Felix S. Alfonso, Yuecheng Zhou, Erica Liu, Allister F. McGuire, Yang Yang, Husniye Kantarci, Dong Li, Eric Copenhaver, J. Bradley Zuchero, Holger Muller, and Bianxiao Cui. PNAS (2020) and bioRxiv 2020.05.16.099002.