Effects of GABA and bicuculline on the electrical activity of rat olfactory placode neurons derived at E13.5 and cultured for 1 week on multi-electrode dishes

Microfabricated electrochemical cell-based biosensors for analysis of living cells in vitro

Cellular biochemical parameters can be used to reveal the physiological and functional information of various cells. Due to demonstrated high accuracy and non-invasiveness, electrochemical detection methods have been used for cell-based investigation. When combined with improved biosensor design and advanced measurement systems, the on-line biochemical analysis of living cells in vitro has been applied for biological mechanism study, drug screening and even environmental monitoring. In recent decades, new types of miniaturized electrochemical biosensor are emerging with the development of microfabrication technology. This review aims to give an overview of the microfabricated electrochemical cell-based biosensors, such as microelectrode arrays (MEA), the electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) technique, and the light addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS). The details in their working principles, measurement systems, and applications in cell monitoring are covered. Driven by the need for high throughput and multi-parameter detection proposed by biomedicine, the development trends of electrochemical cell-based biosensors are also introduced, including newly developed integrated biosensors, and the application of nanotechnology and microfluidic technology.

Investigating neuronal activity with planar microelectrode arrays: achievements and new perspectives

Neuronal networks underlie memory storage and information processing in the human brain, and ultimately participate in what Eccles referred to as "the creation of consciousness". Moreover, as physiological dysfunctions of neurons almost always translate into serious health issues, the study of the dynamics of neuronal networks has become a major avenue of research, as well as their response to pharmacological tampering. Planar microelectrode arrays represent a unique tool to investigate such dynamics and interferences, as they allow one to observe the activity of neuronal networks spread in both space and time. We will here review the major results obtained with microelectrode arrays and give an overview of the latest technological developments in the field, including our own efforts to develop the potential of this already powerful technology.