Cell clinics for bioelectronic interface with single cells

We describe integrated microstructures and instrumentation for capture and characterization of large numbers of individual cells. Each of these "cell clinics" consists of a cell-sized cavity and a lid that can be opened and closed by hinges constructed from polypyrrole microactuators linking rigid plates to the substrate. These clinics are fabricated on integrated circuit substrates to bring sensors, actuation, computation, and control together at the scale of a single cell. Sensing modalities are tailored for specific applications; we have designed and begun to fabricate and test prototypes of cell clinics for impedance measurements, extracellular recording and stimulation of electrically active cells, and optical measurements.