Electrode and sensor readout of biological systems has demonstrated the potential to generate a vast amount of additional information on the status of cell and tissue assemblies on chip (Organ-on-Chip), and their changes in properties upon exposure to new drug candidates. Biochemical experiments are generally performed in standardized microtiter wellplates according to ANSI/SBS standards.
Therefore, integrated electronic readout of microbiological systems will need to be rendered compatible with these standards in order to fully be introduced in the common way of working of biochemical and pharmaceutical laboratories. With relative large sizing of standard wellplates, large-area electronics technologies are ideally positioned to provide a cost-effective realization technology for smart multiwell plates – microtiter plates with integrated electronic readout and/or stimulation.
TNO/Holst Centre has realized a number of prototype demonstrators for the introduction of Metal Electrode Arrays (MEAs), and high density Active-Matrix Electrode Arrays into 3D printed COC microtiter plates. Additionally, the added value of large-area mesh electronics – high density electrode array membranes with open structures in between the electrode pads – has been demonstrated by realisation of suspended electrode arrays in multiwells, enabling fully 3D growth of cells / tissue around the electrode arrays.
