A multi‐electrode array (MEA) biochip with excimer laser‐produced micro‐well features

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight a novel manufacturing process for a biochip with a multi‐electrode array (MEA) that is specifically designed for use in characterising cardio‐active substances and to demonstrate a novel proposed solution prototype that has been constructed to meet the needs of end‐users.

Design/methodology/approach

Practical problems encountered with conventional MEA biochips are described and a novel biochip design to tackle these problems is presented. The manufacturing approach used to produce the prototypes of that design is described and depicted.

Findings

The novel prototype MEA biochips were successfully manufactured using conventional electronics manufacturing approaches. Prototypes demonstrated limited successes in the early stages of testing. Further revisions of the feature geometry are required to implement an alternative MEA biochip that is suitably reliable.

Research limitations/implications

Basic photolithography techniques have been used to construct a base substrate for proof‐of‐principle studies. Increased sophistication in manufacturing stages is required in future iterations of the proposed concept.

Originality/value

This paper introduces a problem encountered by MEA system adopters that requires a suitable solution. The scale up of an electronics manufacturing process‐based solution to the problems described holds much promise for the screening of new chemical entities.

Citation

Flaherty, O.M., Cui, X., Rajamohan, D., Hutt, D., Denning, C., Conway, P.P. and West, A.A. (2012), "A multi‐electrode array (MEA) biochip with excimer laser‐produced micro‐well features", Circuit World, Vol. 38 No. 1, pp. 30-37. https://doi.org/10.1108/03056121211195030