Seeing the Spikes: The Future of Targetable Synthetic Voltage Sensors


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Date

2025-03-05

Publication Type

Review Article

ETH Bibliography

yes

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Abstract

Measuring the transduction of electrical signals within neurons is a key capability in neuroscience. Fluorescent voltage sensitive dyes (VSDs) were early tools that complemented classical electrophysiology by enabling the optical recording of membrane potential changes from many cells simultaneously. Recent advances in the VSD field have led to bright and highly sensitive sensors that can be targeted to the desired cell populations in live brain tissue. Despite this progress, recently, protein-based genetically encoded voltage indicators (GEVIs) have become the go-to tools for targeted voltage imaging in complex environments. In this Perspective, we summarize progress in developing targetable VSDs, discuss areas where these synthetic sensors are or could become relevant, and outline hurdles that need to be overcome to promote the routine use of targetable VSDs in neuroscience research.

Publication status

published

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Volume

16 (5)

Pages / Article No.

761 - 771

Publisher

American Chemical Society

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Subject

voltage-sensitive dye; cell-selective targeting; membrane potential; fluorescent sensor; imaging probe

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