Abstract

Microelectrode arrays provide the means to record electrophysiological activity critical to brain research. Despite its fundamental role, there are no means to customize electrode layouts to address specific experimental or clinical needs. Moreover, current electrodes demonstrate substantial limitations in coverage, fragility, and expense. Using a 3D nanoparticle printing approach that overcomes these limitations, we demonstrate the first in vivo recordings from electrodes that make use of the flexibility of the 3D printing process. The customizable and physically robust 3D multi-electrode devices feature high electrode densities (2600 channels/cm2 of footprint) with minimal gross tissue damage and excellent signal-to-noise ratio. This fabrication methodology also allows flexible reconfiguration consisting of different individual shank lengths and layouts, with low overall channel impedances. This is achieved, in part, via custom 3D printed multilayer circuit boards, a fabrication advancement itself that can support several biomedical device possibilities. This effective device design enables both targeted and large-scale recording of electrical signals throughout the brain.