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Characterization of in vitro neural functional connectivity on a neurofluidic device
Author(s) -
Shen Xuefei,
Wu Jiaxi,
Wang Zhengfei,
Chen Tao
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
electrophoresis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.666
H-Index - 158
eISSN - 1522-2683
pISSN - 0173-0835
DOI - 10.1002/elps.201900168
Subject(s) - multielectrode array , biological neural network , microfluidics , bursting , neuroscience , functional connectivity , artificial neural network , microelectrode , computer science , electrophysiology , nerve net , biological system , topology (electrical circuits) , biology , nanotechnology , materials science , artificial intelligence , chemistry , mathematics , electrode , combinatorics
Understanding the mechanism of functional connectivity in neural system is of great benefit to lot of researches and applications. Microfluidics and microelectrode arrays (MEAs) have been frequently utilized for in vitro neural cultures study. However, there are few studies on the functional connectivity of neural cultures grown on a microfluidic chip. It is intriguing to unveil the influences of microfluidic structures on in vitro neuronal networks from the perspective of functional connectivity. Hence, in the present study, a device was established, which comprised a microfluidic chamber for cell growth and a MEA substrate for recording the electrophysiological response of the neuronal networks. The network topology, neural firing rate, neural bursting rate and network burst frequency were adopted as representative characteristics for neuronal networks analysis. Functional connectivity was estimated by means of cross‐covariance analysis and graph theory. The results demonstrated that the functional connectivity of the in vitro neuronal networks formed in the microchannel has been apparently reinforced, corresponding to improve neuronal network density and increased small‐worldness.