Real ‐Time and High‐Resolution Monitoring of Neuronal Electrical Activity and pH Variations Based on the Co‐Integration of Nanoelectrodes and Chem‐FinFETs

An innovative bio-platform is introduced, integrating two classes of 3D sensors with functional nanostructures to monitor in vitro neural networks. This platform enables simultaneous recording of electrical activity in primary rat cortical neurons using passive vertical nanoprobes, along with localized pH changes utilizing Chem-FinFETs. AbstractDeveloping new approaches amenable to the measurement of neuronal physiology in real-time is a very active field of investigation, as it will offer improved methods to assess the impact of diverse insults on neuronal homeostasis. Here, the development of an in vitro bio platform is reported which can record the electrical activity of cultured primary rat cortical neurons with extreme sensitivity, while simultaneously tracking the localized changes in the pH of the culture medium. This bio platform features passive vertical nanoprobes with ultra-high signal resolution (several mV amplitude ranges) and Chem-FinFETs (pH sensitivity of sub-0.1 pH units), covering an area as little as a neuronal soma. These multi-sensing units are arranged in an array to probe both chemically and electrically an equivalent surface of ≈ 0.5 mm2. A homemade setup is also developed which allows recording of multiplexed data in real-time (10 ps range) from the active chem-sensors and passive electrodes and which is used to operate the platform. Finally, a proof-of-concept is presented for a neuro-relevant application, by investigating the effect on neuronal a...
Source: Small - Category: Nanotechnology Authors: Tags: Research Article Source Type: research