Optical Detection of Neuroelectric Signals Using Electrochromic PEDOT

Neurons encode input and output information through electrical signals. Optical detection and imaging of electric activities provide unprecedented spatial flexibility and parallelization.<b> </b>In the last decade, the advancement of voltage-sensitive fluorescent proteins, and small potentiometric dyes, has drastically enhanced the capability of optical recording of electrical activity in cells. However, the use of fluorophores requires membrane insertion and suffers from photobleaching, phototoxicity, and limited time resolution. We exploit the unique physical properties of electrochromic PEDOT material, whose optical properties can be modulated by the applied electric potential. Combined with sensitive optical detection, we developed an electrochromic optical recording (ECORE) technique that achieves label-free and non-perturbative detection of action potentials in neurons, cardiomyocytes, and brain slices.