Collaborative Research: Plasmonic Nanoantenna Electrode Arrays (NEAs) for Massively Multiplexed Identification of Stem-Cell Derived Cardiac Cells in Regenerative Therapies

合作研究：等离子体纳米天线电极阵列（NEAs）用于再生治疗中干细胞衍生的心脏细胞的大规模多重鉴定非技术摘要：心脏病是美国死亡的主要原因之一。基于干细胞的再生疗法是最有前途的治疗技术之一。然而，从干细胞衍生的细胞是不均匀的;只有一些百分比的初始细胞培养物发育成感兴趣的细胞类型。未分化的细胞留在细胞群中可能导致肿瘤，而且，不成熟的细胞或过度敏感的细胞会阻碍心肌细胞的同步跳动，从而导致心力衰竭。目前检测基于干细胞的心脏细胞纯度的方法依赖于细胞表面标记物，这不是确定细胞功能的精确方法。这一提议提供了一种高通量筛选技术，通过收缩过程中特定的膜电位变化直接测量分化的心肌细胞的功能。所提出的分子-纳米等离子体无标记电压传感器将允许在融合细胞培养物内筛选单细胞膜电位，并提供用于从混合组中选择和纯化功能细胞的准确方法。这种精确技术的发展将为基于干细胞的研究和心脏再生策略带来显著的技术飞跃。除了科学和技术的进步，这项研究计划将提供教育机会，代表性不足的群体和少数民族，并提高本科生和研究生在nanoscience and technology.Technical Abstract的参与：这项研究的目的是引入超灵敏的molecularplasmonic电压探头的非侵入性，实时和亚细胞的心脏细胞膜电位的精确映射。这些电生理学纳米探针可以通过大规模并行和精确绘制心肌细胞膜电位来对干细胞衍生的心肌细胞的分化产生显著影响。由于缺乏具有高空间和时间精度能力的实验电生理技术，该研究计划可能会对心脏细胞研究和再生疗法做出重大贡献。本研究计划的具体目标是：（1）通过电磁模拟，高通量制造和化学合成技术以及光学/电学表征开发分子等离子体电压传感器。(2)以微秒时间分辨率和高信噪比实现衍射极限光斑尺寸下微小电位变化的真实的实时和无标记检测。(3)实现大细胞群中单个细胞的无损成像，区分培养/多细胞状态下的单个细胞特征。拟议的研究计划涉及对分子等离子体器件的理论理解和数值设计。融合纳米/微米组件的器件将使用光刻和合成技术的状态来制造。将使用具有不同密度和细胞组成的可兴奋细胞群对制造的器械进行测试。此外，将实时测量从hiPSC分化的心肌细胞的膜电位的变化。

Collaborative Research: Plasmonic Nanoantenna Electrode Arrays (NEAs) for Massively Multiplexed Identification of Stem-Cell Derived Cardiac Cells in Regenerative TherapiesNontechnical Abstract: Heart diseases are one of the leading causes of death in the US. Stem cellbased regenerative therapies are among the most promising treatment techniques. However, cells derived from stem cells are not uniform; only some percentage of the initial cell culture develops into the cell type of interest. Undifferentiated cells that remain within the cell population could lead to tumor.Furthermore, immature cells or cells with over-sensitivity would hinder the synchronous beating of the heart muscle cells, which can cause heart failure. Current methods to examine the purity of stem-cell based heart cells depend on cell surface markers, which is not a precise way to determine cellular functionality. This proposal offers a high-throughput screening technique to directly measure thefunctionality of differentiated heart muscle cells through their specific membrane potential changes during contraction. The proposed molecular-nanoplasmonic label-free voltage sensors will allow screening of single cell membrane potentials within confluent cell cultures and provide an accurate method for selecting and purifying functional cells from a mixed group. Development of such a precise technique would present a remarkable technological leap in stem cell-based research and strategies for cardiac regeneration. In addition to scientific and technological advancements, this research program will provide educational opportunities to underrepresented groups and minorities, and enhance involvement of undergraduate and graduate students in nanoscience and technology.Technical Abstract: The objective of this research proposal is to introduce ultrasensitive molecularplasmonic voltage probes for non-invasive, real-time and subcellular precision mapping of cardiac cell membrane potentials. These electrophysiological nanoprobes could have significant impact in differentiation of stem cell derived cardiac cells through massively parallel and precise mapping of singlecell membrane potentials. Given the lack of experimental electrophysiological techniques with high spatial and temporal precision capabilities, this research program could significantly contribute to cardiac cell studies and regenerative therapies. The specific objectives of this research program are:(1) to develop molecular-plasmonic voltage sensors by using electromagnetic simulations, high throughput fabrication and chemical synthesis techniques, and optical/electrical characterization.(2) to realize real time and label free detection of tiny potential variations at diffraction limited spot sizes with microsecond temporal resolutions and high signal-to-noise ratios.(3) to achieve non-destructive imaging of single cells in large cell populations and distinguish individual cell characteristics in -cultured/multiple cell state.The proposed research program involves theoretical understanding and numerical design of molecularplasmonic devices. Devices merging nano/micro-meter components will be fabricated using state of lithography and synthesis techniques. Fabricated devices will be tested using excitable cell populations with varying densities and cell compositions. Furthermore, changes in the membrane potentials ofcardiomyocytes that are being differentiated from hiPSC will be measured in real-time.