Using light to interact with cells is a promising way to steer cell behavior with minimal perturbation. Besides optogenetics, photovoltaic nanostructures such as nanowires can be used to interact with cells using light as a switch. Photovoltaic nanowires have, for instance, been used to stimulate neurons. However, the effects of the photovoltaic activity on cells are still poorly understood and characterized. Here, we investigate the effects of the photovoltaic activity of p–i–n nanowire arrays on A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells. We have cultured A549 cells on top of vertical arrays of indium phosphide p–i–n nanowires (photovoltaic nanowires), with and without illumination to assess the effects of the nanowire photovoltaic activity on cells. We show that there is a higher proportion of dormant cells when the p–i–n nanowire arrays are illuminated. However, there is no difference in the proportion of dormant cells when the p–i–n nanowires are coated with oxide, which suggests that carrier injection in the cell medium (in this case, the release of electrons from the tip of the nanowires) is an important factor for modulating cell proliferation on photovoltaic nanowires. The results open up for interesting applications of photovoltaic nanowires in biomedicine, such as using them as a dormancy switch.

中文翻译：

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光伏纳米线在光照条件下影响人肺细胞的增殖。

使用光与细胞相互作用是一种以最小的干扰来指导细胞行为的有前途的方法。除光遗传学外，还可以使用光作为开关，使用光伏纳米结构（例如纳米线）与细胞相互作用。例如，光伏纳米线已被用于刺激神经元。但是，光伏活动对电池的影响仍然知之甚少。在这里，我们研究了p–i–n纳米线阵列的光伏活性对A549人肺腺癌细胞的影响。我们在有或没有照明的情况下，在垂直的磷化铟p–n–n纳米线（光伏纳米线）阵列上培养了A549细胞，以评估纳米线光伏活性对细胞的影响。我们显示，当照亮p–i–n纳米线阵列时，休眠细胞的比例更高。但是，当p–i–n纳米线涂有氧化物时，休眠细胞的比例没有差异，这表明载流子注入了细胞介质（在这种情况下，电子从纳米线的尖端释放）是调节光伏纳米线上细胞增殖的重要因素。该结果为光伏纳米线在生物医学中的有趣应用打开了大门，例如将其用作休眠开关。电子从纳米线尖端的释放）是调节光伏纳米线上细胞增殖的重要因素。该结果为光生伏打纳米线在生物医学中的有趣应用打开了大门，例如将其用作休眠开关。电子从纳米线尖端的释放）是调节光伏纳米线上细胞增殖的重要因素。该结果为光生伏打纳米线在生物医学中的有趣应用打开了大门，例如将其用作休眠开关。