A Flexible Regeneration Microelectrode with Cell-Growth Guidance

Abstract

In this study we fabricate a cell-guide on a thin disc-shaped probe with numerous microholes to be implanted between the severed stumps of axons; the cell-guide directs the regenerating axons though the holes in our probe (Fig. 1(a)). Since cell growth is greatly influenced by the topography of the substrate [1-3] we design a SU8 microfluidic cell-guide with a particular shape (Fig. 1(b)) to prevent the random spreading of cells by directing cell growth through the holes. This guide may reduce the chance of short-circuits of the probe by cells that span two different electrodes. Furthermore, as the cells are directed to grow through the holes, we can measure their electrical potential with gold electrodes that we micro-fabricate.