3D‐Printed Carbon Electrodes for Neurotransmitter Detection

Abstract

Implantable neural microsensors have significantly advanced neuroscience research, but the geometry of most probes is limited by the fabrication methods. Therefore, new methods are needed for batch-manufacturing with high reproducibility. Herein, a novel method is developed using two-photon nanolithography followed by pyrolysis for fabrication of free-standing microelectrodes with a carbon electroactive surface. 3D-printed spherical and conical electrodes were characterized with slow scan cyclic voltammetry (CV). With fast-scan CV, the electrodes showed low dopamine LODs of 11±1 nm (sphere) and 10±2 nm (cone), high sensitivity to multiple neurochemicals, and high reproducibility. Spherical microelectrodes were used to detect dopamine in a brain slice and in vivo, demonstrating they are robust enough for tissue implantation. This work is the first demonstration of 3D-printing of free-standing carbon electrodes; and the method is promising for batch fabrication of customized, implantable neural sensors.

3D Carbon Materials for Efficient Oxygen and Hydrogen Electrocatalysis

“…3D printing can process 3D porous carbon structures of 10 µm thick or thicker with very quick drying time . Some 3D‐printed electrodes have been used in Li‐O 2 batteries and are attracting tremendous interest, though the application of 3D‐printed electrodes in electrocatalysis is still in its infancy . 3D‐printed electrode use in electrocatalysis might be hampered, though, by the development of an appropriate ink and printing scheme for abundant active sites generation.…”

“…[126][127][128][129] Some 3D-printed electrodes have been used in Li-O 2 batteries [116] and are attracting tremendous interest, though the application of 3D-printed electrodes in electrocatalysis is still in its infancy. [36,130] 3D-printed electrode use in electrocatalysis might be hampered, though, by the development of an appropriate ink and printing scheme for abundant active sites generation. Other major printing techniques, such as inkjet printing, screen printing, and transfer printing, have also been commonly used for depositing nanostructured carbons onto substrates of varying size, surface energy, and flexibility for energy applications.…”

Review: new insights into optimizing chemical and 3D surface structures of carbon electrodes for neurotransmitter detection

“… 8 In addition, carbon nanostructures are now made by nanolithography and 3D printing techniques. 9 , 10 Structures are made from photoresist and then pyrolyzed to form carbon, resulting in customized geometries such as arrays.…”

Biomarkers and neuromodulation techniques in substance use disorders

“…Electrochemical methods of neurotransmitter detection have some advantages over more traditional microdialysis probes (Rogers et al 2017) because of their smaller footprint, response speed on the order of seconds and because their fabrication shares many steps with that of traditional electrode arrays (Ou et al 2019). Application of advanced fabrication strategies such as multi-fiber braiding and 3D printing open further possibilities for parallel detection from multiple sites and for engineering the mechanical properties of probes closer to that of soft brain tissues (Wang et al 2019;Yang et al 2018).…”