Electrical recordings with gold coated microelectrode arrays that permit the control of neuronal attachment

Realization of in vitro neuronal circuits on microelectrode arrays (MEAs) may significantly benefit basic neuroscience studies, as well as provide insight relevant to applications such as neural prostheses or cell-based biosensors. Here we report on a design approach in which the MEAs are coated with gold so as to permit the use of the relatively reliable surface modification chemistry afforded by alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). In turn neurons attach and grow along chemically modified areas. Successful recordings indicate that the gold layer does not interfere with the array or neuronal electrical properties.