Development of a multifunctional platform for extra- and intracellular ionic activities recording.

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology and Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Accurate manipulation and recording at the cellular level are crucial for understanding biological systems.
• Existing micro tools often lack the versatility for multiple applications, such as simultaneous recording and drug delivery.
• The development of novel materials and fabrication techniques is essential for creating advanced cellular interfaces.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a multifunctional platform using silicon nitride micropipettes for advanced cellular operations.
• To demonstrate the fabrication of high-precision micropipettes with tunable dimensions.
• To showcase the utility of these micropipettes as ion-selective electrodes and drug microdispensers.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of silicon nitride micropipettes using a generic technology.
• Characterization of micropipette dimensions, including outer diameter (300 nm to 6 µm) and wall thickness (150 nm to 500 nm).
• Implementation of micropipettes for intracellular and extracellular recordings, and local drug microdispensing.

Main Results:

• Successful fabrication of silicon nitride micropipettes with controlled nanoscale dimensions.
• Demonstration of the platform's capability for both intracellular and extracellular ion-selective electrode recordings.
• Validation of the micropipettes as effective local drug microdispensers.

Conclusions:

• The developed silicon nitride micropipette platform offers a versatile solution for complex cellular operations.
• The technology enables precise manipulation and recording, with potential applications in neuroscience and drug delivery research.
• This advancement provides a foundation for next-generation tools in cellular biology and electrophysiology.