Insertion of flexible neural probes using rigid stiffeners attached with biodissolvable adhesive.

Microelectrode arrays for neural interface devices that are made of biocompatible thin-film polymer are expected to have extended functional lifetime because the flexible material may minimize adverse tissue response caused by micromotion. However, their flexibility prevents them from being accurately inserted into neural tissue. This article demonstrates a method to temporarily attach a flexible microelectrode probe to a rigid stiffener using biodissolvable polyethylene glycol (PEG) to facilitate precise, surgical insertion of the probe. A unique stiffener design allows for uniform distribution of the PEG adhesive along the length of the probe. Flip-chip bonding, a common tool used in microelectronics packaging, enables accurate and repeatable alignment and attachment of the probe to the stiffener. The probe and stiffener are surgically implanted together, then the PEG is allowed to dissolve so that the stiffener can be extracted leaving the probe in place. Finally, an in vitro test method is used to evaluate stiffener extraction in an agarose gel model of brain tissue. This approach to implantation has proven particularly advantageous for longer flexible probes (>3 mm). It also provides a feasible method to implant dual-sided flexible probes. To date, the technique has been used to obtain various in vivo recording data from the rat cortex.

A Multiplexed Fluorescent Calcium and NFAT Reporter Gene Assay to Identify GPCR Agonists.

Intracellular calcium response and resulting calcium signaling to an agonist-GPCR interaction are important for the measurement of compound activity in the GPCR drug development. The increase in cytosol calcium concentration can be measured by the fluorescent calcium indicator dye such as Fluo-4 in a quick assay (in 3-5 minutes) using the fluorescence imaging plate reader. The calcium signaling through the transcription factors such as NFAT that induces gene expression can be measured by the reporter gene assay that links to the expression of reporter enzyme such as the beta-lactamase that requires 5-hour incubation. We have evaluated a multiplexed assay that sequentially measures the calcium response to a GPCR agonist in a rapid fluorescent calcium dye assay, followed by a NFAT beta-lactamase assay, and compared them in the single assay format. We found that the agonist activity determined in the multiplexed assay were comparable with these determined in the single assay format and the Z' factors were all >0.5. Five active compounds were identified that were active in both calcium dye assay and beta-lactamase assay. Therefore, our results demonstrated the utility of this multiplexed calcium assay for screening of GPCR compounds that can cross validate the primary hits and help to eliminate the false positive compounds.

Removable silicon insertion stiffeners for neural probes using polyethylene glycol as a biodissolvable adhesive.

Flexible polymer probes are expected to enable extended interaction with neural tissue by minimizing damage from micromotion and reducing inflammatory tissue response. However, their flexibility prevents them from being easily inserted into the tissue. This paper describes an approach for temporarily attaching a silicon stiffener with biodissolvable polyethylene glycol (PEG) so that the stiffener can be released from the probe and extracted shortly after probe placement. A novel stiffener design with wicking channels, along with flip-chip technology, enable accurate alignment of the probe to the stiffener, as well as uniform distribution of the PEG adhesive. Insertion, extraction, and electrode function were tested in both agarose gel and a rat brain. Several geometric and material parameters were tested to minimize probe displacement during stiffener extraction. We demonstrated average probe displacement of 28 ± 9 µm.

Polymer neural interface with dual-sided electrodes for neural stimulation and recording.

We present here a demonstration of a dual-sided, 4-layer metal, polyimide-based electrode array suitable for neural stimulation and recording. The fabrication process outlined here utilizes simple polymer and metal deposition and etching steps, with no potentially harmful backside etches or long exposures to extremely toxic chemicals. These polyimide-based electrode arrays have been tested to ensure they are fully biocompatible and suitable for long-term implantation; their flexibility minimizes the injury and glial scarring that can occur at the implantation site. The creation of dual-side electrode arrays with more than two layers of trace metal enables the fabrication of neural probes with more electrodes without a significant increase in probe size. This allows for more stimulation/recording sites without inducing additional injury and glial scarring.

Optimization of multi-layer metal neural probe design.

We present here a microfabrication process for multi-layer metal, multi-site, polymer-based neural probes. The process has been used to generate 1-, 2-, and 4-layer trace metal neural probes with highly uniform and reproducible electrode characteristics. Typically, increasing the number of metal layers is assumed to both reduce the width of the neural probes and minimize the injury and glial scarring caused at the implantation site. We show, however, that increasing the number of trace metal layers does not always result in the minimal probe cross-sectional area. A thorough design analysis reveals that the electrode size, along with other design parameters, have interacting effects on the probe cross-sectional area. Moreover, increasing the trace metal layers in the neural probes also increases the design and fabrication cost/time, as well as the likelihood of probe failure. Consequently, all of these factors must be considered when designing a multi-site, neural probe with the objective of minimizing tissue damage.