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Two-Photon Polymerization 3D-Printing of Micro-scale Neuronal Cell Culture Devices
Published on: June 7, 2024
A Customizable 3D-Printed Neural Probe Array Using Two-Photon Polymerization with Millimeter-Scaled Conductive
Seoyeon Won1, Simon Binder2,3, Alexandra M Boyadzhiev1
1Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|June 8, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a new method to create customizable neural probes using 3D printing and conductive polymers. This advancement enables stable neural recordings in freely moving rats, paving the way for advanced bioelectronic devices.
Area of Science:
- Bioelectronics
- Materials Science
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Microelectrode arrays are crucial for neuroscience research and therapeutics.
- Current fabrication methods limit structural customization and material integration.
- Two-photon polymerization (2PP) offers high-resolution 3D printing but faces conductivity challenges with polymers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To overcome limitations in fabricating customizable neural probes.
- To integrate conductive polymers into 2PP 3D-printed architectures.
- To demonstrate a novel platform for advanced bioelectronic devices.
Main Methods:
- Utilized two-photon polymerization (2PP) for 3D printing neural probe scaffolds.
- Employed electrochemical deposition to integrate poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):tetrafluoroborate (PEDOT:BF4) conductive polymer.
- Fabricated millimeter-scaled, all-polymer electrodes via this integrated approach.
Main Results:
- Successfully created vertically extended, all-polymer electrodes with millimeter-scale length.
- Achieved low impedance and excellent electrochemical and mechanical stability.
- Demonstrated effective neural recordings in freely moving rats using the fabricated probes.
Conclusions:
- Presented a novel fabrication process for customizable microelectrode arrays.
- Showcased the effective integration of PEDOT:BF4 into 2PP 3D-printed microneedle arrays.
- Established a platform technology with potential for diverse bioelectronic applications.
