Rotation 1: Microelectrode arrays for astrocyte electrophysiology

BBSRC strategic theme: Transformative technologies

Recent discoveries highlight the role of astrocytes in information processing in the brain. These cells are known, for example, to exhibit low amplitude and low frequency membrane potential fluctuations and show intercellular electrical and chemical coupling. Microelectrode arrays (MEAs) are invaluable tools for neural electrophysiology, with applications in studies of network activity, drug screening, disease modelling and brain-computer interfaces. Their application in astrocytes, however, is hampered by the lower electrical excitability of these cells compared to neurons. We will develop a new generation of MEAs based on organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs). These devices show inherent signal amplification and are particularly suitable for low frequency signals. We will develop transistor-based MEAs and couple them with astrocytes to measure their activities under different pharmacological treatments that change their activity. We will combine with Ca2+ imaging to help understand the origin of the recorded signals. This project will lay the foundation for a better tool for understanding astrocyte electrophysiology.