Ultrasensitive gold micro-structured electrodes enabling the detection of extra-cellular long-lasting potentials in astrocytes populations

• Tipo: Artigo em Revista Científica Internacional
• Data: 2017

Autores

Mestre, ALG (Autor) Outra; Cerquido, M (Autor) Outra; Inacio, PMC (Autor) Outra; Asgarifar, S (Autor) Outra; Lourenco, AS (Autor) Outra; Cristiano, MLS (Autor) Outra; Paulo Aguiar (Autor) FMUP; Medeiros, MCR (Autor) Outra; Araujo, IM (Autor) Outra; ventura, j. (Autor) FCUP; Gomes, HL (Autor) Outra

Revista

Título: Scientific Reports

Vol. 7

ISSN: 2045-2322

Editora: Springer Nature

Indexação

ISI Web of Knowledge - 11 Citações

Scopus - 11 Citações

Outras Informações

ID Authenticus: P-00N-5XG

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-14697-y

Abstract (EN): Ultra-sensitive electrodes for extracellular recordings were fabricated and electrically characterized. A signal detection limit defined by a noise level of 0.3-0.4 mu V for a bandwidth of 12.5 Hz was achieved. To obtain this high sensitivity, large area (4 mm(2)) electrodes were used. The electrode surface is also micro-structured with an array of gold mushroom-like shapes to further enhance the active area. In comparison with a flat gold surface, the micro-structured surface increases the capacitance of the electrode/electrolyte interface by 54%. The electrode low impedance and low noise enable the detection of weak and low frequency quasi-periodic signals produced by astrocytes populations that thus far had remained inaccessible using conventional extracellular electrodes. Signals with 5 mu V in amplitude and lasting for 5-10 s were measured, with a peak-to-peak signal-to-noise ratio of 16. The electrodes and the methodology developed here can be used as an ultrasensitive electrophysiological tool to reveal the synchronization dynamics of ultra-slow ionic signalling between non-electrogenic cells.

Idioma: Inglês

Tipo (Avaliação Docente): Científica

Nº de páginas: 11