Development of a Flexible Non-Metal Electrode for Cell Stimulation and Recording

Abstract

This study presents a method of producing flexible electrodes for potentially simultaneously stimulating and measuring cellular signals in retinal cells. Currently, most multi-electrode applications rely primarily on etching, but the metals involved have a certain degree of brittleness, leaving them prone to cracking under prolonged pressure. This study proposes using silver chloride ink as a conductive metal, and polydimethysiloxane (PDMS) as the substrate to provide electrodes with an increased degree of flexibility to allow them to bend. This structure is divided into the electrode layer made of PDMS and silver chloride ink, and a PDMS film coating layer. PDMS can be mixed in different proportions to modify the degree of rigidity. The proposed method involved three steps. The first segment entailed the manufacturing of the electrode, using silver chloride ink as the conductive material, and using computer software to define the electrode size and micro-engraving mechanisms to produce the electrode pattern. The resulting uniform PDMS pattern was then baked onto the model, and the flow channel was filled with the conductive material before air drying to produce the required electrode. In the second stage, we tested the electrode, using an impedance analyzer to measure electrode cyclic voltammetry and impedance. In the third phase, mechanical and biocompatibility tests were conducted to determine electrode properties. This study aims to produce a flexible, non-metallic sensing electrode which fits snugly for use in a range of measurement applications.

Application of a Novel Measurement Setup for Characterization of Graphene Microelectrodes and a Comparative Study of Variables Influencing Charge Injection Limits of Implantable Microelectrodes

“…To calculate cathodal charge-storage capacity, the following formula was used [31]:CSCc=1v∣∫EcEajcudU∣, where CSC c is the cathodal charge-storage capacity mC/cm2, v is the sweep rate (mV/s), jcu is the cathodal current density false(mA/cm2), Ec and Ea are the cathodic and anodic extremes of the water window respectively, and U is the potential with respect to the RE (V). The calculation of tge cathodal charge-storage capacity was implemented in the above-mentioned software in OringPro.…”

Aerosol Jet Printed 3D Electrochemical Sensors for Protein Detection

“…After evaluating available designs on the market and in the literature [ 30 ], a 3-electrodes system (working (WE), counter (CE) and reference (RE) electrodes), usually employed for electrochemical measurements, was selected as layout ( Figure 1 ).…”

A Measurement Setup and Automated Calculation Method to Determine the Charge Injection Capacity of Implantable Microelectrodes

“…However, to determine the solution resistance of a microelectrode whose roughness factor is not zero, it is necessary to calculate the equivalent electrical model of an electrode/electrolyte interface [24,25,26].…”

“…It is also possible to determine the cathodic charge storage capacity (CSC c ), which is defined as the total amount of reversible charge available in the cathodic phase of the stimulation pulse. It is calculated by integrating the cathodic current over a potential range whose limits correspond to the electrochemical potential window [24].…”