Speaker: Sabine Zips, M.Sc; PhD student at the research group Neuroelectronics led by Prof. Bernhard Wolfrum
Time: January 14 2020, 1:00 pm
Place: Munich School of BioEngineering (Lecture Hall E.126, Boltzmannstr. 11, 85748 Garching)
Abstract:
As an alternative to classical fabrication methods, additive manufacturing technologies have increasingly been used for the rapid prototyping of functional devices. Inkjet printing and aerosol-jet printing are prominent examples for processing functional inks, which have been widely applied for sensor development. One of their most intriguing feature is that they allow three-dimensional patterning of novel conductive materials in a short amount of time. Here, we present a fully printed three-dimensional µ-needle electrode array for bioelectronic applications. The fabrication process involves inkjet printing of the conductive feedlines and aerosol-jet printing of the 3D shaped electrode tips, called µ-needles, in a PEDOT:PSS-based composite ink containing multiwalled carbon nanotubes. The electrochemical response of the printed µ-needle electrode arrays is shown and a proof-of-concept recording of signals from cardiac muscle cells is demonstrated. In the future, cell-culture platforms with integrated µ-needle sensors can potentially be used for recording or stimulation in three-dimensional tissue cultures, which offers new possibilities for the development of organ-on-a-chip devices.