Berlin 2005 – scientific programme

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HL: Halbleiterphysik

HL 48: Symposium: Bio- and Neurotransistors

HL 48.1: Talk

Tuesday, March 8, 2005, 10:45–11:15, TU P270

Transistors with Ion Channels, Nerve Cells and Brain Tissue — •Peter Fromherz — Department of Membrane and Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry, Martinsried, München

An overview is given on various aspects of transistor recording in neuronal systems using simple silicon chips and CMOS technology. On the biological side, the three levels of ion channels, nerve cells and brain tissue are considered. The geometry and electrical features of cell-chip contacts are analyzed with luminescent dyes taking advantage of fluorescence interference and of the Stark effect. The nature of signal transmission from ionic systems to the transistor is studied with recombinant sodium and potassium channels. On that basis, transistors are applied for various cellular systems: (i) Recombinant ligand-gated channels provide a basis for selective cell-based biosensors. (ii) Electrical excitation is recorded for individual nerve cells from snails and rats. (iii) The release of individual synaptic vesicles is detected. For brain tissue, dynamic electrical maps of neuronal activity are obtained at a resolution below 10 micrometer and 0.5 ms using large transistor arrays of a CMOS chip.