Light-addressable electrode with hydrogenated amorphous silicon and low-conductive passivation layer for stimulation of cultured neurons

Abstract

The authors propose a light-addressable planar electrode with a simple three-layer laminated structure that can induce pinpoint neuronal activation on the culture substrate. The structure consists of a tin oxide (SnO2), hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H), and passivation layer. The passivation layer was a spin-coated low-conductive zinc antimonate (ZnOSb2O5)-dispersed epoxy, which was proved to be effective for preventing penetration of culture medium and thus avoiding deterioration of a-Si:H layer. Illumination to the electrode locally elevated the conductivity with 60-fold stimulus charge density. The fluo-4 calcium imaging of neurons cultured on the developed electrode showed that the neuronal activation was confined around the illuminated location, thus demonstrating the light-addressing capability of the proposed electrode.