Jung Hwal Shin

Carbon-Nanotube-Modified Electrodes for Highly Efficient Acute Neural Recording

Microelectrodes are widely used for monitoring neural activities in various neurobiological studies. The size of the neural electrode is an important factor in determining the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of recorded neural signals and, thereby, the recording sensitivity. Here, it is demonstrated that commercial tungsten microelectrodes can be modified with carbon nanotubes (CNTs), resulting in a highly sensitive recording ability. The impedance with the respect to surface area of the CNT-modified electrodes (CNEs) is much less than that of tungsten microelectrodes because of their large electrochemical surface area (ESA). In addition, the noise level of neural signals recorded by CNEs is significantly less. Thus, the SNR is greater than that obtained using tungsten microelectrodes. Importantly, when applied in a mouse brain in vivo, the CNEs can detect action potentials five times more efficiently than tungsten microelectrodes. This technique provides a significant advance in the recording of neural signals, especially in brain regions with sparse neuronal densities.

Ionic liquid flow along the carbon nanotube with DC electric field

Liquid pumping can occur along the outer surface of an electrode under a DC electric field. For biological applications, a better understanding of the ionic solution pumping mechanism is required. Here, we fabricated CNT wire electrodes (CWEs) and tungsten wire electrodes (TWEs) of various diameters to assess an ionic solution pumping. A DC electric field created by a bias of several volts pumped the ionic solution in the direction of the negatively biased electrode. The resulting electro-osmotic flow was attributed to the movement of an electric double layer near the electrode, and the flow rates along the CWEs were on the order of picoliters per minute. According to electric field analysis, the z-directional electric field around the meniscus of the small electrode was more concentrated than that of the larger electrode. Thus, the pumping effect increased as the electrode diameter decreased. Interestingly in CWEs, the initiating voltage for liquid pumping did not change with increasing diameter, up to 20 μm. We classified into three pumping zones, according to the initiating voltage and faradaic reaction. Liquid pumping using the CWEs could provide a new method for biological studies with adoptable flow rates and a larger ‘Recommended pumping zone’.

Implantation of encapsulated human septal chondrocytes into immunocompetent mice using alginate microfibers

Cartilage regeneration is a major challenge for researchers because cartilage tissue has limited innate regenerative ability. Encapsulation within an alginate gel has been used widely for 3D scaffolds to generate cartilage-like tissue, but alginate gels have limitations such as poor mechanical properties. In this study, we fabricated alginate microfibers for human septal chondrocyte (HSC) encapsulation and identified the conditions that result in the optimal mechanical properties of the alginate microfibers. In vitro experiments showed that HSCs encapsulated within alginate microfibers maintained >90% viability for 7 days, and the 140μm condition was more effective in terms of HSC proliferation than the 330 and 520μm conditions. In vivo, HSCs differentiated gradually into cartilage tissue over 4 weeks in immunocompetent mice. Importantly, the alginate-encapsulated HSCs were isolated and protected from the host immune response despite xenograft implantation.

MPTMS Treated Au/PDMS Membrane for Flexible and Stretchable Strain Sensors

Au/PDMS membranes are widely used to fabricate strain sensors which can detect input signals. An interfacial adhesion between metal films and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates is one of the important factors determining the performance of strain sensors, in terms of robustness, reliability, and sensitivity. Here, we fabricate Au/PDMS membranes with (3-mercaptopropyl) trimethoxysilane (MPTMS) treatment. PDMS membranes were fabricated by spin-coating and the thickness was controlled by varying the spin rates. Au electrodes were deposited on the PDMS membrane by metal sputtering and the thickness was controlled by varying sputtering time. Owing to the MPTMS treatment, the interfacial adhesion between the Au electrode and the PDMS membrane was strengthened and the membrane was highly transparent. The Au electrode, fabricated with a sputtering time of 50 s, had the highest gauge factor at a maximum strain of ~0.7%, and the Au electrode fabricated with a sputtering time of 60 s had the maximum strain range among sputtering times of 50, 60, and 120 s. Our technique of using Au/PDMS with MPTMS treatment could be applied to the fabrication of strain sensors.

Low-impedance Tetrodes using Carbon Nanotube-Polypyrrole Composite Deposition

A tetrode is one of the neural electrodes, and it is widely used to record neural signals in the brain of a freely moving animal. The impedance of a neural electrode is an important parameter because it determines the signal-to-noise ratio of the recorded neural signals. Here, we developed a modification technique using carbon nanotube-polypyrrole composite nanostructures to decrease the impedances of tetrodes. The synthesis of the carbon nanotube and polypyrrole nanostructures was performed in two steps. In the first step, randomly dispersed carbon nanotubes and pyrrole monomers were gathered and aligned on the tetrode electrode. Next, they were electro-polymerized on the electrode surface. As the applied time (step-1 and step-2) and the offset voltage increased, the impedances of the tetrodes decreased. The modification technique is, therefore, an important and useful of lowering the impedances of tetrodes.

Reliable Diameter Control of Carbon Nanotube Nanobundles Using Withdrawal Velocity

Carbon nanotube (CNT) nanobundles are widely used in nanoscale imaging, fabrication, and electrochemical and biological sensing. The diameter of CNT nanobundles should be controlled precisely, because it is an important factor in determining electrode performance. Here, we fabricated CNT nanobundles on tungsten tips using dielectrophoresis (DEP) force and controlled their diameters by varying the withdrawal velocity of the tungsten tips. Withdrawal velocity pulling away from the liquid–air interface could be an important, reliable parameter to control the diameter of CNT nanobundles. The withdrawal velocity was controlled automatically and precisely with a one-dimensional motorized stage. The effect of the withdrawal velocity on the diameter of CNT nanobundles was analyzed theoretically and compared with the experimental results. Based on the attachment efficiency, the withdrawal velocity is inversely proportional to the diameter of the CNT nanobundles; this has been demonstrated experimentally. Control of the withdrawal velocity will play an important role in fabricating CNT nanobundles using DEP phenomena.

Carbon-Nanotube-Modified Glass Micropipette for Simultaneous Drug Injection and Neural Monitoring

Glass micropipettes are widely used for drug injection in neurological studies. To enable these devices to monitor neural activity simultaneously with drug injection, an electrode such as Ag/AgCl must be located near or inserted into the glass micropipette to detect electrical signals in vivo. Here, we report carbon-nanotube-modified glass micropipettes (CNGs), which have excellent electrochemical properties such as low impedance and large electrochemical surface area suited for neural recording. In addition, using a standard pressure pump, CNGs can deliver drugs to the target region without bending. Because they are based on standard glass micropipettes, CNGs can readily be applied to traditional equipment, creating opportunities to monitor precisely the drug-injected area.