A 3-D Microfluidic/Electronic Scaffold for Increased Viability and Analysis of Thick in Vitro Brain Slices

This paper presents a novel 3-D scaffold for culturing thick in vitro brain slices. The microscaffold consists of a 12x12 array of spiked SU-8 microtowers with integrated fluidic properties for nutrient delivery and electrodes for stimulation/recording to the thick in vitro brain slice cultured on the system. Design, fabrication, and packaging of the brain slice scaffold are presented. Additionally, increased cell viability data from thick (> 400pm) in vitro brain slices cultured on a PDMS and glass capillary microperfusion system is presented. The nutrient/fluid delivery properties of both the glass capillary microperfusion system and the presented brain slice scaffold allow for increased integrity and viability of thick brain slices.