Atom-Thick Semiconductors Enable Real-Time Cellular Electrical Signal Detection

Researchers at UC San Diego have developed a groundbreaking optical method to monitor cell activity using quantum properties of monolayer materials.

Scientists at UC San Diego have discovered that atom-thick semiconductors can detect electrical activity in living cells using light, eliminating the need for electrodes or dyes.
The technology leverages the quantum properties of monolayer molybdenum sulfide, which naturally forms sulfur vacancies, enhancing its responsiveness to electric fields.
This method achieves unmatched speed and resolution in tracking electrical signals, offering significant advantages over traditional techniques like microelectrodes and calcium imaging.
Potential applications include mapping neurological and cardiac disorders, improving therapies like deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease, and advancing cardiac pacing techniques.
The findings, published in *Nature Photonics*, open new avenues for non-invasive, high-speed investigation of biological electrical activity across various tissues.