Planar microelectrode chip for synchronous simulative neurochemical and neuroelectrial monitoring.

The microfabricated microelectrode arrays on glass substrate combined with homemade multichannel detection system as a powerful tool for synchronous neurochemical and neuroelectrial monitoring was described. The dual-mode (neurochemical and neuroelectrial: simultaneous recording of spikes, and dopamine overflow on the same spatiotemporal scale) recording was carried in PBS buffer. The neurochemical constant potential amperometry was carried at +0.4 V working potential for nM-microM dopamine detection and nM level dopamine concentration increase can be detected by the device. The microelectrode chip showed high sensitivity of 0.88 nA/nM mm2 during nM range and 0.43 nA/nM mm2 during microM range for the determination of DA. The amperometric method used to detect dopamine (DA) did not significantly influence electrophysiological activity at low concentration (< 200 nM) and have a quickly clear away strike at high concentration (> 2 microM). The system uniquely affords synchronous measurement of chemical and electrical neural activity at the adjacent recording sites on the same chip. The sensitivity and resolution of the device allows for simultaneous recoding of electrical and chemical signaling, which may be useful for examining specific spatiotemporal relationships between electrical and chemical signaling in vitro.