Fabrication and Characterization of 3D Micro- and Nanoelectrodes for Neuron Recordings.docVIP

Sensors 2010, 10, 10339-10355; doi:10.3390/s101110339 OPEN ACCESS sensors ISSN 1424-8220 /journal/sensors Article Fabrication and Characterization of 3D Micro- and Nanoelectrodes for Neuron Recordings Maria Dimaki *, Patricia Vazquez, Mark Holm Olsen, Luigi Sasso, Romen Rodriguez-Trujillo, Indumathi Vedarethinam and Winnie E. Svendsen Department of Micro- and Nanotechnology, Technical University of Denmark, DTU Nanotech, Building 345E, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark; E-Mails: Patricia.Vazquez@nanotech.dtu.dk (P.V.); Mark.Olsen@nanotech.dtu.dk (M.H.O.); Luigi.Sasso@nanotech.dtu.dk (L.S.); Romen.Trujillo@nanotech.dtu.dk (R.R.-T.); Indumathi.Vedarethinam@nanotech.dtu.dk (I.V.); Winnie.Svendsen@nanotech.dtu.dk (W.E.S.) * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: Maria.Dimaki@nanotech.dtu.dk; Tel.: +45 Fax: +45 Received: 18 October 2010; in revised form: 28 October 2010 / Accepted: 15 November 2010 / Published: 17 November 2010 Abstract: In this paper we discuss the fabrication and characterization of three dimensional (3D) micro- and nanoelectrodes with the goal of using them for extra- and intracellular studies. Two different types of electrodes will be described: high aspect ratio microelectrodes for studying the communication between cells and ultimately for brain slice recordings and small nanoelectrodes for highly localized measurements and ultimately for intracellular studies. Electrical and electrochemical characterization of these electrodes as well as the results of PC12 cell differentiation on chip will be presented and discussed. Keywords: 3D electrodes; fabrication; neuron differentiation on chip 1. Introduction Recording electrical or chemical signals from cells can provide a lot of information about how they respond to different stimuli, how they communicate with each other and how they function in general.  Sensors 2010, 10 10340 This kind of unders