Long-term brain-on-chip: Multielectrode array recordings in 3D neural cell cultures

This study presents sensing of network bursts in a three-dimensional (3D) cell culture system consisting of a microbioreactor and a multielectrode array (MEA), i.e., brain-on-chip, to interpret neural network dynamics in a label-free manner. While our initial results reported an increased single spiking activity already over the course of days 7, 14, and 21 in vitro, the advanced long-term analysis of the data set (including a last timepoint at day 79) here demonstrates a proof-of-principle for following bursting patterns upon maturation of the network in the microbioreactor as an add-on device for a commercial MEA recording system. These quantitative electrophysiological findings, including mean bursting rate, mean burst duration, and network burst dynamics, confirm a 2D to 3D transition in coherence with the literature.