Single-Cell Optogenetic Control of Calcium Signaling with a High-Density Micro-LED Array

• Published in: iScience Vol. 21; pp. 403 - 412
• Main Authors: Mao, Dacheng, Li, Ningwei, Xiong, Zheshun, Sun, Yubing, Xu, Guangyu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 22.11.2019; Elsevier
• Subjects: Bioelectronics; Cellular Neuroscience; Electronic Materials; Techniques in Genetics; Techniques in Neuroscience; Techniques in Neuroscience; Bioelectronics; Cellular Neuroscience; Techniques in Genetics; Electronic Materials
• ISSN: 2589-0042; 2589-0042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2019.10.024

Precise optogenetic control, ideally down to single cells in dense cell populations, is essential in understanding the heterogeneity of cell networks. Devices with such capability, if built in a chip scale, will advance optogenetic studies at cellular levels in a variety of experimental settings. Here we demonstrate optogenetic control of intracellular Ca2+ dynamics at the single cell level using a 16-μm pitched micro-light emitting diode (LED) array that features high brightness, small spot size, fast response, and low voltage operation. Individual LED pixels are able to reliably trigger intracellular Ca2+ transients, confirmed by fluorescence microscopy and control experiments and cross-checked by two genetically coded Ca2+ indicators. Importantly, our array can optogenetically address individual cells that are sub-10 μm apart in densely packed cell populations. These results suggest the possible use of the micro-LED array toward a lab-on-a-chip for single-cell optogenetics, which may allow for pharmaceutical screening and fundamental studies on a variety of cell networks. [Display omitted] •Precise optogenetic control of Ca2+ signaling down to the single cell level•Bright, localized optogenetic stimulus with a high-density micro-LED array•Advancing micro-LED arrays toward a lab-on-a-chip for single-cell optogenetics Techniques in Genetics; Cellular Neuroscience; Techniques in Neuroscience; Bioelectronics; Electronic Materials