A Bio-photoelectrolytic Organic Semiconductor Platform For Measurement And Control Of Proliferation And Behaviour Of Living Cells Using Light Pulses

Organic semiconductors are promising for interfacing with biological systems because they are biocompatible, printable and their optical properties tuned. We developed a bio-photoelectrolytic platform based on semiconducting polymer thin films, onto which neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells were cultured immersing both in an aqueous biological medium. It was possible to inhibit cell proliferation by 50% in this cancer cell line by subjecting the platform to a series of light pulses over time. Light stimulation was found to increase the concentration of calcium ions inside the cells by three times. The platform also enabled to measure bio-electrical signals. The bio–photoelectrolytic platform and the effective use of light stimulation may open new avenues for in vitro light control/manipulation of cell behaviour, for the development of future novel non-invasive tools for application in biosensing, regenerative medicine and cell-based therapy, and for cancer progression control and therapy.