Conclusions
Silicon-based PVMA were successfully fabricated by means of microelectronic technology. Their reduced dimensions, planar morphology, simple fabrication process and their capability to harvest energy from light and instantaneously convert it to an electric stimulus provides a stimulation tool of single cells without the limitation of external cables and electrodes. Furthermore, induction of cytosolic Ca2+ transients triggered by the electrical stimuli generated by the PVMA, on which osteoblasts cells were grown, shows the feasibility of this approach towards localized activation of excitable cells in a simple way. In summary, this technology affords new possibilities for the electric stimulation of single cells as a tool for life science explorations as well as for future biomedical applications based on controlling bioelectric signaling.
