Using microelectronics technology to communicate with living cells

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Neuroscience
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Standard microelectronics face challenges in direct, high-quality interfacing with electrogenic cells.
• Existing systems often lack integrated signal processing and bidirectional communication capabilities.
• Need for advanced tools to study complex cellular network dynamics in vitro.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and present a monolithic complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) microsystem for integrated cell-electronic interfacing.
• To enable bidirectional communication (stimulation and recording) with cultured electrogenic cells.
• To facilitate in vitro studies of neural network behavior, plasticity, and responses to stimuli.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a 128-electrode monolithic microsystem using CMOS technology.
• Direct use of the chip as a substrate for neuronal and cardiac cell culturing.
• Integration of per-electrode circuitry for stimulation and signal treatment.
• On-chip analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion and digital interface for fast data acquisition.
• Recording of spontaneous and stimulated electrical activity from cell cultures.

Main Results:

• Demonstration of a functional 128-electrode CMOS microsystem for cell culturing.
• Successful bidirectional communication, including stimulation and high-quality signal recording.
• Acquisition of spontaneous and stimulated electrical activity data from neuronal and cardiac cell cultures.
• Validation of on-chip signal processing and digital interface for efficient data transfer.

Conclusions:

• The developed CMOS microsystem provides a powerful platform for advanced in vitro electrophysiology.
• The system facilitates detailed investigation of neural network development, plasticity, and pharmacological effects.
• This technology enables high-resolution, real-time monitoring and manipulation of cellular electrical activity.