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Biocompatible Parylene Neurocages for Action Potential Recording and Stimulation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Angela Tooker
Affiliation:
atooker@mems.caltech.edu, California Institute of Technology, Electrical Engineering, 1200 E. California Blvd., M/C 136-93, Pasadena, CA, 91125, United States, 626-395-2267
Jon Erickson
Affiliation:
erickson@caltech.edu, California Institute of Technology, Bioengineering, Pasadena, CA, 91125, United States
Yu-Chong Tai
Affiliation:
yctai@mems.caltech.edu, California Institute of Technology, Electrical Engineering, Pasadena, CA, 91125, United States
Jerry Pine
Affiliation:
jpmail@capsi.caltech.edu, California Institute of Technology, Physics, Pasadena, CA, 91125, United States
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Abstract

Parylene neurocages are biocompatible and very robust, making them ideally suited for studying neural networks. We present a design and fabrication process for building parylene neurocages for in vitro studies of neural networks. The fabrication process, on either silicon or glass substrates, incorporates electrodes into the neurocages to allow for stimulation and recording of action potentials. The resulting neurocages have a long-term cell survival rate of ∼50% and have proven to be 99% effective in trapping neurons.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2006

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