Development of a Flexible Non-Metal Electrode for Cell Stimulation and Recording
This study presents a method of producing flexible electrodes for potentially simultaneously stimulating and measuring cellular signals in retinal cells. Currently, most multi-electrode applications rely primarily on etching, but the metals involved have a certain degree of brittleness, leaving them...
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MDPI AG
2016-09-01
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Series: | Sensors |
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Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/16/10/1613 |
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author | Cihun-Siyong Alex Gong Wun-Jia Syu Kin Fong Lei Yih-Shiou Hwang |
author_facet | Cihun-Siyong Alex Gong Wun-Jia Syu Kin Fong Lei Yih-Shiou Hwang |
author_sort | Cihun-Siyong Alex Gong |
collection | DOAJ |
description | This study presents a method of producing flexible electrodes for potentially simultaneously stimulating and measuring cellular signals in retinal cells. Currently, most multi-electrode applications rely primarily on etching, but the metals involved have a certain degree of brittleness, leaving them prone to cracking under prolonged pressure. This study proposes using silver chloride ink as a conductive metal, and polydimethysiloxane (PDMS) as the substrate to provide electrodes with an increased degree of flexibility to allow them to bend. This structure is divided into the electrode layer made of PDMS and silver chloride ink, and a PDMS film coating layer. PDMS can be mixed in different proportions to modify the degree of rigidity. The proposed method involved three steps. The first segment entailed the manufacturing of the electrode, using silver chloride ink as the conductive material, and using computer software to define the electrode size and micro-engraving mechanisms to produce the electrode pattern. The resulting uniform PDMS pattern was then baked onto the model, and the flow channel was filled with the conductive material before air drying to produce the required electrode. In the second stage, we tested the electrode, using an impedance analyzer to measure electrode cyclic voltammetry and impedance. In the third phase, mechanical and biocompatibility tests were conducted to determine electrode properties. This study aims to produce a flexible, non-metallic sensing electrode which fits snugly for use in a range of measurement applications. |
first_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:40:19Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-8f0d91beba9d447c97e464798c49b107 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1424-8220 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:40:19Z |
publishDate | 2016-09-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
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series | Sensors |
spelling | doaj.art-8f0d91beba9d447c97e464798c49b1072022-12-22T04:23:31ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202016-09-011610161310.3390/s16101613s16101613Development of a Flexible Non-Metal Electrode for Cell Stimulation and RecordingCihun-Siyong Alex Gong0Wun-Jia Syu1Kin Fong Lei2Yih-Shiou Hwang3Department of Electrical Engineering, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, TaiwanGraduate Institute of Medical Mechatronics, College of Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, TaiwanGraduate Institute of Medical Mechatronics, College of Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, TaiwanDepartment of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Branch, Taoyuan 33304, TaiwanThis study presents a method of producing flexible electrodes for potentially simultaneously stimulating and measuring cellular signals in retinal cells. Currently, most multi-electrode applications rely primarily on etching, but the metals involved have a certain degree of brittleness, leaving them prone to cracking under prolonged pressure. This study proposes using silver chloride ink as a conductive metal, and polydimethysiloxane (PDMS) as the substrate to provide electrodes with an increased degree of flexibility to allow them to bend. This structure is divided into the electrode layer made of PDMS and silver chloride ink, and a PDMS film coating layer. PDMS can be mixed in different proportions to modify the degree of rigidity. The proposed method involved three steps. The first segment entailed the manufacturing of the electrode, using silver chloride ink as the conductive material, and using computer software to define the electrode size and micro-engraving mechanisms to produce the electrode pattern. The resulting uniform PDMS pattern was then baked onto the model, and the flow channel was filled with the conductive material before air drying to produce the required electrode. In the second stage, we tested the electrode, using an impedance analyzer to measure electrode cyclic voltammetry and impedance. In the third phase, mechanical and biocompatibility tests were conducted to determine electrode properties. This study aims to produce a flexible, non-metallic sensing electrode which fits snugly for use in a range of measurement applications.http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/16/10/1613silver inkPDMScellstimulationrecordingflexible |
spellingShingle | Cihun-Siyong Alex Gong Wun-Jia Syu Kin Fong Lei Yih-Shiou Hwang Development of a Flexible Non-Metal Electrode for Cell Stimulation and Recording Sensors silver ink PDMS cell stimulation recording flexible |
title | Development of a Flexible Non-Metal Electrode for Cell Stimulation and Recording |
title_full | Development of a Flexible Non-Metal Electrode for Cell Stimulation and Recording |
title_fullStr | Development of a Flexible Non-Metal Electrode for Cell Stimulation and Recording |
title_full_unstemmed | Development of a Flexible Non-Metal Electrode for Cell Stimulation and Recording |
title_short | Development of a Flexible Non-Metal Electrode for Cell Stimulation and Recording |
title_sort | development of a flexible non metal electrode for cell stimulation and recording |
topic | silver ink PDMS cell stimulation recording flexible |
url | http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/16/10/1613 |
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