Dual compartment neurofluidic system for electrophysiological measurements in physically isolated neuronal cell cultures.

Abstract

This work investigates an approach to record electrophysiological measurements of neuronal cell cultures in a dual compartment neurofluidic system. The two compartments are separated by 10-μm-wide and 3-μm-high microchannels and this provides a physical isolation of neurons allowing only neurites to grow between the compartments. We present long-term cell viability in closed compartment devices, neurite growth across the microchannels and a recording setup for the long-term recording of the network activity over 21 Days-in-Vitro (DIV). Structural and fluidic isolation between the compartments are demonstrated using transfection experiments and neurotoxin exposure, respectively