Design and Simulation of Flexible Thin-Film Electrodes for Cell Culture Stimulation

Abstract

This document reviews the design and fabrication process of electrodes in Costa Rica, to be use in electric cell-substrate stimulations and electrochemical impedance sensing up to 10 kHz. The effect of the electrode design (through electrode sensor area and passivation coating) on electrode was simulated and experimentally evaluated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements. The high charge points in the electrode were minimize by passivation after the simulation. It was observed that the passivated area has an impedance contribution by minimizing parasite currents. The optimized design of electrode reported in this work will make it possible to probe the cell growth, adhesion and biological cell layers by reducing measurement artifacts and improving the quality of data. The self-made flexible electrodes may allow being use in cell culture studies and to measure in real-time the cellular properties during the in vitro study and by chemical modifications may be used in the charge molecules control release.