Multi-walled carbon nanotube based multi-electrode arrays for the detection of the emergent activity in the cortical network

Display Omitted A process to modify microfabricated platinum electrodes with carbon nanotubes.The process is based on standard processing and compatible with large scale.The electrodes show improved sensitivity and electric charge transfer.The electrodes enable enhanced neural activity recording from cortical slices. We present a novel carbon nanotube growth method for the selective growth of high density arrays of multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) on multi electrode arrays systems (MEA). Platinum (Pt) has been used as the electrode material but also as the metal to catalyse the growth of the MWCNTs. These MWCNTs modified electrodes present a lower impedance compared to the original electrodes and thus, enhance the electrode sensitivity, increase its electric charge transfer and also improve the electrode-tissue contact. The system was tested for the recording of spontaneous rhythmic activity generated by ferret cortical slices before and after blockade of inhibition.