Highly Stretchable Microelectrode Array for Free-form 3D Neuronal Tissue

Abstract

There has been rapid advancement in the development of 3D neuronal cultures and brain organoids. However, conventional rigid 2D and 3D microelectrode arrays (MEAs) are not suitable for neural recording of free-form tissues due to limited contact with the tissue and poor media exchange. Here, we present a stretchable dual-MEA device suitable for non-invasive recording of free-form neural tissues for the first time. We achieve high stretchability by employing serpentine signal lines on a polyimide substrate and enable media exchange through perforated regions. A tissue sample was placed in between a pair of these stretchable MEAs to demonstrate successful 3D conformal contact and continuous media exchange.