3D-Printed Carbon Electrodes for Neurotransmitter Detection

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Current neural probe fabrication methods limit geometric customization and batch production.
• Advanced neuroscience research requires high-reproducibility, implantable neural sensors with precise geometries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel method for batch-fabricating free-standing microelectrodes with carbon electroactive surfaces.
• To characterize the performance of 3D-printed electrodes for neurochemical detection.

Main Methods:

• Two-photon nanolithography followed by pyrolysis was used to create 3D-printed microelectrodes.
• Cyclic voltammetry (CV) was employed for electrochemical characterization.
• In vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to assess dopamine detection.

Main Results:

• Fabricated spherical and conical electrodes exhibited low dopamine limits of detection (LODs) of 11±1 nm and 10±2 nm, respectively.
• The electrodes demonstrated high sensitivity to multiple neurochemicals and excellent reproducibility.
• Successful detection of dopamine in brain slices and in vivo confirmed robustness for tissue implantation.

Conclusions:

• This study presents the first demonstration of 3D-printed free-standing carbon electrodes.
• The developed method offers a promising approach for the batch fabrication of customized, implantable neural sensors.
• The technology has the potential to significantly advance neuroscience research and clinical applications.