Microfluidic probes for research in Epilepsy and brain diseases

Neural probes for simultaneous recording and local drug delivery dispensing Microliquid design, fabricate and encapsulate multi-site probes for simultaneous neuronal recording and drug delivery using exclusively the polymer SU-8 as structural material. Our fProbes (fluidic probes) integrate a single and double fluidic microchannels for independent drug delivery.

Use case

The fProbe successfully records local field potentials and single-cell activity at microscopic resolution from the dorsal hippocampus of the model (as tested with the anesthetized preparation). Drug delivery is achieved with high spatial and temporal precision in a range from tens of nanoliters to a few microliters.

Integrated Fluidic Channels

Integrate a single fluidic channel into a tetrode-like design or two independent fluidic channels into an 8-electrode linear array

Simultaneous recording and fluidic dispensing

Simultaneous monitoring of brain activity and delivery at a very precise micrometer scale. Beeing able to detect both single-cell activity and local field potential oscillations

Dimensions

50 microns thick probes that include a 50x20 microns microfluidic channels

Customized

Design fprobes with custom specifications with microLIQUID’s fast and tested manufacturing process in single and double fluidic channel probes at a resolution never attained before. SU-8 as structural material for the substrate Sharp pointed to facilitate insertion with thickness of 55 µm and 5 mm long Dimensions of the fluidic channels are 50 x 20µm for the tetrode and 40 x 20µm for the linear-array Sensing sites were made of platinum (Pt), given its enhanced electrical and biocompatible features. 20 µm diameter in order to facilitate neuronal firing discrimination Possibility of changing dimensions of the fluidic channels and electrodes

fPack: a dedicated packaging for the fProbe

Successful functionality of our fProbes requires appropriated electrical and fluidic control. A multifunctional and compact packaging, fPack, for housing both probe designs and to guarantee multiple electrical and fluidic connections with the outside
fPack support pressures in the order of 0.1 to 2 bar (10 bar with neural applications) From four to eight spring-loaded pins are used for electrical connection with a DIP socket Two fluidic connectors with independent inlets are used to enable simultaneous delivery from each channel using O-rings for sealing purposes Full control of drug delivery by the two independent fluidic microchannels. Suitable for acute applications The fPack configuration was designed for a successful electrical and fluidic control of fProbes.

Datasheet

We took advantage of novel fabrication procedures (Patent protected) to integrate planar tetrode and linear-like electrodes.