title: Barbed channels enhance unidirectional connectivity between neuronal networks cultured on multi electrode arrays.
abstract: Cultured neurons on multi electrode arrays (MEAs) have been widely used to study various aspects of neuronal (network) functioning. A possible drawback of this approach is the lack of structure in these networks. At the single cell level, several solutions have been proposed to enable directed connectivity, and promising results were obtained. At the level of connected sub-populations, a few attempts have been made with promising results. First assessment of the designs' functionality, however, suggested room for further improvement. We designed a two chamber MEA aiming to create a unidirectional connection between the networks in both chambers ("emitting" and "receiving"). To achieve this unidirectionality, all interconnecting channels contained barbs that hindered axon growth in the opposite direction (from receiving to emitting chamber). Visual inspection showed that axons predominantly grew through the channels in the promoted direction. This observation was confirmed by spontaneous activity recordings. Cross-correlation between the signals from two electrodes inside the channels suggested signal propagation at ≈2 m/s from emitting to receiving chamber. Cross-correlation between the firing patterns in both chambers indicated that most correlated activity was initiated in the emitting chamber, which was also reflected by a significantly lower fraction of partial bursts (i.e., a one-chamber-only burst) in the emitting chamber. Finally, electrical stimulation in the emitting chamber induced a fast response in that chamber, and a slower response in the receiving chamber. Stimulation in the receiving chamber evoked a fast response in that chamber, but no response in the emitting chamber. These results confirm the predominantly unidirectional nature of the connecting channels from emitting to receiving chamber.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Signals and Systems, University of Twente Enschede, Netherlands ; Clinical Neurophysiology, MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, University of Twente Enschede, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Joost
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: le Feber
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Signals and Systems, University of Twente Enschede, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Wybren
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Postma
authors.affiliation: BIOS Lab-on-a-Chip Group, University of Twente Enschede, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Eddy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Weerd
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Signals and Systems, University of Twente Enschede, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weusthof
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Signals and Systems, University of Twente Enschede, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Wim L C
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Rutten
keywords: cortical neurons; electrical stimulation; electrophysiology; multi electrode array; spontaneous activity; stimulus response