Polymer-Based Functional Cantilevers Integrated with Interdigitated Electrode Arrays—A Novel Platform for Cardiac Sensing

Heart related ailments are some of the most common causes for death in the world, and some of the causes are cardiac toxicity due to drugs. Several platforms have been developed in this regard over the years that can measure electrical or mechanical behavior of cardiomyocytes. In this study, we have demonstrated a biomedical device that can simultaneously measure electrophysiology and contraction force of cardiomyocytes. This dual-function device is composed of a photosensitive polymer-based cantilever, with a pair of metal-based interdigitated electrodes on its surface, such that the cantilever can measure the contraction force of cardiomyocytes and the electrodes can measure the impedance between cells and substrate. The cantilever is patterned with microgrooves so that the cardiomyocytes can align to the cantilever in order to make a higher cantilever deflection in response to contraction force. Preliminary experimental results have identified the potential for use in the drug-induced cardiac toxicity tests, and further optimization is desirable to extend the technique to various bio-sensor areas.