Three-Dimensional Microelectrodes Array Based on Vertically Stacked Beads For Mapping Neurons' Electrophysiological Activity

Understanding how the brain process and store information is one of the most important quest in modern science. To this aim, in vitro neuronal models still represent a relevant approach, and a continuous improvement in the in-vitro methodologies for monitoring neurons electrical activity is in fact an important requirement. Moreover, with the advent of novel approaches in the development of in vitro 3D neuronal models, assessing the neural connectivity and monitoring the electrical activity in such complex cellular structures has lately become an important research objective that requires innovative platforms and fabrication approaches.In this preliminary work, we report on a customizable technique for developing 3D-vertical microelectrodes on standard planar MEAs in order to obtain system-on-a-chip platforms for neurophysiological applications. The proposed 3D-vertical microelectrodes are able to reliably record the electrical activity from different layers within a 3D neuronal culture, thus allowing a better understanding of the neurons electrical interaction at the three-dimensional level.