A floating 5 μm-diameter needle electrode on the tissue for damage-reduced chronic neuronal recording in mice

Lab Chip. 2022 Feb 15;22(4):747-756. doi: 10.1039/d1lc01031j.

Abstract

Microelectrode technology is essential in electrophysiology and has made contributions to neuroscience as well as to medical applications. However, it is necessary to minimize tissue damage associated with needle-like electrode on the brain tissue and the implantation surgery, which makes stable chronic recording impossible. Here, we report on an approach for using a 5 μm-diameter needle electrode, which enables the following of tissue motions, via a surgical method. The electrode is placed on the brain tissue of a mouse with a dissolvable material, reducing the physical stress to the tissue; this is followed by the implantation of the electrode device in the brain without fixing it to the cranium, achieving a floating electrode architecture on the tissue. The electrode shows stable recording with no significant degradation of the signal-to-noise ratios for 6 months, and minimized tissue damage is confirmed compared to that when using a cranium-fixed electrode with the same needle geometry.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain* / physiology
  • Electrodes, Implanted
  • Mice
  • Microelectrodes
  • Neurons* / physiology
  • Signal-To-Noise Ratio