On-Chip Simultaneous Intracellular Recording and Stimulation of Electrical and Biochemical Activities from Hundreds of Neurons
Participating Organizations
NEXT-Bio-electronic Systems (NEXTBE), Belgium (Co-ordinator).
Abstract
In the field of neuro-IT, major efforts are devoted to the development of efficient and durable neuro-electronic hybrid systems. These efforts are driven by the desire to use neuro-electronic ybrids system for basic research and for achieving direct communication between brains and computers in brain-computer interfaces. Basic neurophysiological research makes extensive use of in-vitro cultured neurons for fundamental studies of neuronal communication, short and long term plasticity (relevant for learning and memory), neuropharmacology, neurodegenerative diseases and other molecular, cellular and system aspects of the nervous system. Novel tools enabling simultaneous high quality recordings from many neurons as well as on-line sensing of intrcellular biochemical processes are needed to advance this challenging field of research. In the BRAIN STORM project, we propose to develop novel concepts and technologies that enable simultaneous in-vitro intracellular recordings from hundreds of neurons combined with on-chip neuronal stimulation. These technologies will be integrated in a neuro-electronic hybrid platform in which a single or multiple transistor gates are functionally placed inside a living cell. Using a novel approach the inserted micronails will also serve as sensors for biochemical processes. In addition hollow micronails protruding from the gate surface serve as intracellular micro-syringes and as sensors for intracellular molecular processes. To achieve tight coupling with the cell membrane and enable efficient intra- and extracellular recordings, micronail-type probes are integrated with a CMOS readout circuitry. These micronails are structured to operate either as intracellular microelectrodes or as intracellular micro-syringes allowing injecting drugs and a variety of biological molecules into the cells or to produce pressure or suction that will be used in additional to other procedures to penetrate the cell membrane.
