Repository logo
 

Microelectrode Arrays for Simultaneous Electrophysiology and Advanced Optical Microscopy.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Middya, Sagnik 
Curto, Vincenzo F 
Fernández-Villegas, Ana 
Robbins, Miranda 
Gurke, Johannes 

Abstract

Advanced optical imaging techniques address important biological questions in neuroscience, where structures such as synapses are below the resolution limit of a conventional microscope. At the same time, microelectrode arrays (MEAs) are indispensable in understanding the language of neurons. Here, the authors show transparent MEAs capable of recording action potentials from neurons and compatible with advanced microscopy. The electrodes are made of the conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) and are patterned by optical lithography, ensuring scalable fabrication with good control over device parameters. A thickness of 380 nm ensures low enough impedance and >75% transparency throughout the visible part of the spectrum making them suitable for artefact-free recording in the presence of laser illumination. Using primary neuronal cells, the arrays record single units from multiple nearby sources with a signal-to-noise ratio of 7.7 (17.7 dB). Additionally, it is possible to perform calcium (Ca2+) imaging, a measure of neuronal activity, using the novel transparent electrodes. Different biomarkers are imaged through the electrodes using conventional and super-resolution microscopy (SRM), showing no qualitative differences compared to glass substrates. These transparent MEAs pave the way for harnessing the synergy between the superior temporal resolution of electrophysiology and the selectivity and high spatial resolution of optical imaging.

Description

Keywords

Journal Title

Adv Sci (Weinh)

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2198-3844
2198-3844

Volume Title

8

Publisher

Wiley

Rights

All rights reserved
Sponsorship
European Commission Horizon 2020 (H2020) Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) (732032)
Medical Research Council (MR/K02292X/1)
Wellcome Trust (065807/Z/01/Z)
Wellcome Trust (203249/Z/16/Z)
Cambridge Trust, University of Cambridge. Wellcome Trust (065807/Z/01/Z) (203249/Z/16/Z) UK Medical Research Council (MRC) (MR/K02292X/1) Alzheimer Research UK (ARUK) (ARUK-PG013-14) Michael J Fox Foundation (16238) Infinitus China Ltd. European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no. 732032 (BrainCom).