Design, Fabrication, Simulation and Characterization of a Novel Dual-Sided Microelectrode Array for Deep Brain Recording and Stimulation

Abstract

In this paper, a novel dual-sided microelectrode array is specially designed and fabricated for a rat Parkinson’s disease (PD) model to study the mechanisms of deep brain stimulation (DBS). The fabricated microelectrode array can stimulate the subthalamic nucleus and simultaneously record electrophysiological information from multiple nuclei of the basal ganglia system. The fabricated microelectrode array has a long shaft of 9 mm and each planar surface is equipped with three stimulating sites (diameter of 100 μm), seven electrophysiological recording sites (diameter of 20 μm) and four sites with diameter of 50 μm used for neurotransmitter measurements in future work. The performances of the fabricated microelectrode array were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry. In addition, the stimulating effects of the fabricated microelectrode were evaluated by finite element modeling (FEM). Preliminary animal experiments demonstrated that the designed microelectrode arrays can record spontaneous discharge signals from the striatum, the subthalamic nucleus and the globus pallidus interna. The designed and fabricated microelectrode arrays provide a powerful research tool for studying the mechanisms of DBS in rat PD models.

Microfabricated Probes for Studying Brain Chemistry: A Review

“…Similar electricalc omponents may also be adapted to perform other functions, such as pH and oxygen sensing, [140] and electrical stimulation. [141,142] Furthermore, microfabrication will open an opportunityf or monolithic integration of electrochemical probesw ith microfluidic and opticalm odalities (see below). A variety of substrates and materials has been used in development of the microfabricated probesw ith the goal of creating small, biocompatible devices with enhanced sensor sensitivity and selectivity.H owever, the current technology stillh as al imitation in an umber of measurable neurochemicals (less than 10 compounds can be measured).…”

In Vivo Neural Recording and Electrochemical Performance of Microelectrode Arrays Modified by Rough-Surfaced AuPt Alloy Nanoparticles with Nanoporosity

“…These four sites with diameter of 50 μm and the other four recording sites were also mutually spaced with equal center-to-center distance of 250 μm. Figure 1 showed the schematic diagram of the designed microelectrode array, and design and fabrication of the probes have been described in detail elsewhere [67]. In this paper, the in vivo neural recording and electrochemical performance of recording sites modified by rough-surfaced AuPt alloy nanoparticles were mainly studied.…”

“…In this paper, in order to improve the in vivo neural recording performance of our fabricated Michigan type silicon electrodes [67], we modified the round-shaped gold microelectrode sites (diameter of 20 μm) via electro-co-deposition of Au-Pt-Cu alloy nanoparticles followed by chemical dealloying Cu for the first time. Firstly, the prepared rough-surfaced Au-Pt alloy nanoparticles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), which showed that the prepared AuPt alloy nanoparticles exhibited cauliflower-like shapes and possessed very rough surfaces with many different sizes of pores.…”

Microelectrode Arrays Modified with Nafion/Nanoporous AuPt Nanoparticles for in vivo Detection of Dopamine

“…The detailed description of the design and fabrication of the microelectrode arrays was given in our group's previous work. (35) In this study, the neurotransmitter measurement sites with diameter of 50 μm were modified with Nafion film/ nanoporous AuPt nanoparticles used as DA sensors and their performance was mainly studied. …”

“…Here, in order to construct in vivo DA electrochemical sensors on Michigan-type silicon electrodes fabricated by our group, (35) …”