Towards a 3D-Printed and Autonomous Culture Platform Integrated with Commercial Microelectrode Arrays

Abstract

Biologists and physicians need tools that may study the biological mechanisms involved in the degeneration of tissues to understand and slow down the effects of the diseases. In this way, systems able to maintain a culture in its appropriate conditions, even long term, and compatible with electro-stimulation and acquisition, open a wide field of applications. The proposed design is a low-cost portable system that accomplishes all these requirements. It is based on the integration of an MEA with electronic systems, and a culture platform, offering the possibility of electro-stimulation of a cell or tissue culture and studying its electrical activity.