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Customizable Fabrication of 2D and Conformal Multielectrode Arrays for 3D Printed Organotypic Bioelectronic
Ernest Cheah1, Xinchao Gao1, Wei Qi Jaw2,3
1Singapore Centre for 3D Printing, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore.
Advanced Healthcare Materials
|September 4, 2025
Summary
Aerosol jet printing (AJP) offers a faster, customizable method for creating biocompatible multi-electrode arrays (MEAs) for 3D tissue models. This technique reduces fabrication time and waste while maintaining electrode stability and performance for advanced bioelectronic applications.
Area of Science:
- Bioelectronic interfaces
- Tissue engineering
- Materials science
Background:
- Organotypic 3D tissue models require precise electrophysiological interfaces for studying function and disease.
- Conventional multi-electrode array (MEA) fabrication is costly and time-consuming, hindering rapid customization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate aerosol jet printing (AJP) as a rapid and customizable fabrication method for biocompatible MEAs.
- To evaluate the performance, stability, and cytocompatibility of AJP-fabricated MEAs.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of gold MEAs on polyimide substrates using aerosol jet printing (AJP) of gold nanoparticles.
- Electrochemical characterization, including impedance measurements and stability testing over 14 days.
- Coating MEAs with PEDOT/PSS to enhance charge injection capacity.
- Cytocompatibility assessment via 3D bioprinting of C2C12 myoblasts.
- Electrophysiological recordings from primary cortical neurons and HL-1 cardiomyocytes.
Main Results:
- AJP reduced MEA fabrication time significantly (≈175 min vs. ≈320 min) with minimal waste.
- Printed electrodes exhibited low impedance (0.05 kΩ µm⁻²) and stable performance for 14 days.
- PEDOT/PSS coating improved charge injection capacity and stability over 200,000 pulses.
- High cell viability (70-80%) was achieved with 3D bioprinted C2C12 myoblasts.
- Successful electrophysiological recordings from neurons and cardiomyocytes with good signal-to-noise ratios.
Conclusions:
- AJP is a scalable and efficient method for producing customizable, biocompatible MEAs.
- These MEAs are suitable for advanced bioelectronic interfaces in organotypic 3D tissue models.
- The technology supports enhanced cell organization and electrophysiological studies in engineered tissues.
