Transparent Biosensor with Micro Channel Array for Optical and Electrophysiological Cell Signal Detection

This paper describes transparent biosensors to detect both optical and electrophysiological signals of Luciferin-Iuciferase reaction. By using MEMS technologies, we have developed "micro channel array (hereafter MCA)" integrated with suction holes and detecting electrodes for electrophysiological biosensors. Each detecting electrode is electrically isolated. Reliable clamping of a single cell at the detecting electrode is expected to improve the cellular selectivity and S/N ratio. The transparent biosensors in this paper are designed as a variation of the MCA. Luciferin-Iuciferase reaction generates optical and electrophysiological signals simultaneously against chemical stimulus. In this study, we employed Per1-luc slice having circadian rhythm as a typical example of cell having Luciferin-Iuciferase reaction. Optical and electrophysiological signals of the Per1-luc slice could be successfully observed by developed transparent biosensors with MCA.