Three-dimensional liquid metal-based neuro-interfaces for human hippocampal organoids

Three-dimensional liquid metal-based neuro-interfaces for human hippocampal organoids

14 May 2024 | Yan Wu, Jinhao Cheng, Jie Qi, Chen Hang, Ruihua Dong, Boon Chuan Low, Hanry Yu, Xingyu Jiang
This study presents a novel 3D liquid metal-polymer conductor (MPC)-based mesh neuro-interface for recording electrical signals from human hippocampal organoids (hHOs). hHOs, derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), are promising models for investigating neurodegenerative disorders. However, noninvasive recording of neural activity from these free-floating organoids remains challenging with conventional multi-electrode arrays (MEAs). The researchers developed a 128-channel mesh MPC (mMPC) that integrates a flexible and stretchable design, allowing attachment to hHOs. The mMPC was fabricated using a soft lithography process, incorporating gallium-indium alloy and elastic polymers (TPU and PU). This device exhibited excellent flexibility, stretchability, and conductivity, enabling the detection of neural signals from hHOs. Under Wnt3a and SHH activator induction, hHOs produced hippocampal progenitors and granule neurons, with transcriptomic signatures similar to the developing human hippocampus. The mMPC successfully recorded neural activities, including spikes, synchronization, and oscillatory network activity, from hHOs, demonstrating its potential for studying neural circuits in 3D models. The study highlights the importance of non-invasive recording methods for understanding neurological disorders and the development of advanced neuro-interface technologies.This study presents a novel 3D liquid metal-polymer conductor (MPC)-based mesh neuro-interface for recording electrical signals from human hippocampal organoids (hHOs). hHOs, derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), are promising models for investigating neurodegenerative disorders. However, noninvasive recording of neural activity from these free-floating organoids remains challenging with conventional multi-electrode arrays (MEAs). The researchers developed a 128-channel mesh MPC (mMPC) that integrates a flexible and stretchable design, allowing attachment to hHOs. The mMPC was fabricated using a soft lithography process, incorporating gallium-indium alloy and elastic polymers (TPU and PU). This device exhibited excellent flexibility, stretchability, and conductivity, enabling the detection of neural signals from hHOs. Under Wnt3a and SHH activator induction, hHOs produced hippocampal progenitors and granule neurons, with transcriptomic signatures similar to the developing human hippocampus. The mMPC successfully recorded neural activities, including spikes, synchronization, and oscillatory network activity, from hHOs, demonstrating its potential for studying neural circuits in 3D models. The study highlights the importance of non-invasive recording methods for understanding neurological disorders and the development of advanced neuro-interface technologies.
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