title: A feasibility study of multi-site,intracellular recordings from mammalian neurons by extracellular gold mushroom-shaped microelectrodes.
abstract: The development of multi-electrode array platforms for large scale recording of neurons is at the forefront of neuro-engineering research efforts. Recently we demonstrated, at the proof-of-concept level, a breakthrough neuron-microelectrode interface in which cultured Aplysia neurons tightly engulf gold mushroom-shaped microelectrodes (gMμEs). While maintaining their extracellular position, the gMμEs record synaptic- and action-potentials with characteristic features of intracellular recordings. Here we examined the feasibility of using gMμEs for intracellular recordings from mammalian neurons. To that end we experimentally examined the innate size limits of cultured rat hippocampal neurons to engulf gMμEs and measured the width of the "extracellular" cleft formed between the neurons and the gold surface. Using the experimental results we next analyzed the expected range of gMμEs-neuron electrical coupling coefficients. We estimated that sufficient electrical coupling levels to record attenuated synaptic- and action-potentials can be reached using the gMμE-neuron configuration. The definition of the engulfment limits of the gMμEs caps diameter at ≤2-2.5 μm and the estimated electrical coupling coefficients from the simulations pave the way for rational development and application of the gMμE based concept for in-cell recordings from mammalian neurons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Science, and the Harvey M. Kruger family Center for Nanoscience. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel.
authors.forename: Silviya M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ojovan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Science, and the Harvey M. Kruger family Center for Nanoscience. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel.
authors.forename: Noha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rabieh
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Science, and the Harvey M. Kruger family Center for Nanoscience. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel.
authors.forename: Nava
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shmoel
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Science, and the Harvey M. Kruger family Center for Nanoscience. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel.
authors.forename: Hadas
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Erez
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Science, and the Harvey M. Kruger family Center for Nanoscience. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel.
authors.forename: Eilon
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maydan
authors.affiliation: Intel Israel LTD, S.B.I. Park Har Hotzvim, CFF8, Jerusalem 91031, Israel.
authors.forename: Ariel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Science, and the Harvey M. Kruger family Center for Nanoscience. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel.
authors.forename: Micha E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Spira
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008839:Microelectrodes; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D006046:Gold