A Scalable Fishbone Nanowire Array (FINE) for 3D Quasi‐Intracellular Recording in Intact Brains

Y Youngbin Tchoe (Integrated Electronics and Biointerfaces Laboratory Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of California San Diego La Jolla CA 92093 USA) J Jihwan Lee K Karen J. Tonsfeldt (Integrated Electronics and Biointerfaces Laboratory Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of California San Diego La Jolla CA 92093 USA) T Tianhai Wu (Integrated Electronics and Biointerfaces Laboratory Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of California San Diego La Jolla CA 92093 USA) D Daniel R. Cleary (Integrated Electronics and Biointerfaces Laboratory Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of California San Diego La Jolla CA 92093 USA) H Hoi Sang U (Integrated Electronics and Biointerfaces Laboratory Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of California San Diego La Jolla CA 92093 USA) R Ren Liu G Guy Bouvier (Department of Physiology, University of California San Francisco) R Ritwik Vatsyayan (Integrated Electronics and Biointerfaces Laboratory Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of California San Diego La Jolla CA 92093 USA) A Andrew M. Bourhis (Integrated Electronics and Biointerfaces Laboratory Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of California San Diego La Jolla CA 92093 USA) S Sang Heon Lee E Eric Halgren (Department of Radiology University of California San Diego La Jolla CA 92093 USA) I Ian Galton (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of California San Diego La Jolla CA 92093 USA) M Massimo Scanziani (Department of Physiology, University of California San Francisco) S Shadi A. Dayeh (Integrated Electronics and Biointerfaces Laboratory Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of California San Diego La Jolla CA 92093 USA)

Abstract

AbstractIntracellular recordings provide unique access to the submillisecond neuronal membrane potential changes, revealing dynamics that orchestrate cellular, local, and large‐scale brain activity. However, technical requirements limit the scalability of intracellular recordings to large populations of neurons, especially within intact brains. To overcome this limitation, a Fishbone Intracellular Nanowire Electrode (FINE) is developed with ultra‐sharp nanowire tips strategically integrated at slanted angles along an implantable shank to record 3D intracellular potentials from ensembles of neurons in intact brain. A novel fabrication process is developed to integrate reverse‐angled platinum silicide (PtSi) nanowires to preserve the structural integrity of FINE during insertion. As‐implanted or sub‐micron retraced FINE spreads the PtSi nanowires away from the shank to establish intimate nanowire‐neuron interfaces that yield quasi‐intracellular potentials. Comparative analyses of nanowire recordings versus adjacent planar recordings on the same shank validate their distinctive quasi‐intracellular recording characteristics. The scalability of FINE is demonstrated to a 3D 24‐shank array with 594 nanowires and 430 planar contacts and successfully identified quasi‐intracellular potentials across 127 distinct nanowires in the intact brain. FINE's 3D quasi‐intracellular recording holds the potential to unlock detailed investigations of the intricate ionic potential fluctuations and patterns of transmembrane potentials that drive behavior and cognition.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 37, Issue 41
Published October 01, 2025
ISSN 0935-9648
Publisher Unknown Publisher

Journal Info

Advanced Materials

Unknown Publisher

ISSN: 0935-9648 Physical Sciences

Authors (15)

Y

Youngbin Tchoe

Integrated Electronics and Biointerfaces Laboratory Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of California San Diego La Jolla CA 92093 USA

J

Jihwan Lee

K

Karen J. Tonsfeldt

Integrated Electronics and Biointerfaces Laboratory Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of California San Diego La Jolla CA 92093 USA

T

Tianhai Wu

Integrated Electronics and Biointerfaces Laboratory Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of California San Diego La Jolla CA 92093 USA

D

Daniel R. Cleary

Integrated Electronics and Biointerfaces Laboratory Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of California San Diego La Jolla CA 92093 USA

H

Hoi Sang U

Integrated Electronics and Biointerfaces Laboratory Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of California San Diego La Jolla CA 92093 USA

R

Ren Liu

G

Guy Bouvier

Department of Physiology, University of California San Francisco

R

Ritwik Vatsyayan

Integrated Electronics and Biointerfaces Laboratory Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of California San Diego La Jolla CA 92093 USA

A

Andrew M. Bourhis

Integrated Electronics and Biointerfaces Laboratory Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of California San Diego La Jolla CA 92093 USA

S

Sang Heon Lee

E

Eric Halgren

Department of Radiology University of California San Diego La Jolla CA 92093 USA

I

Ian Galton

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of California San Diego La Jolla CA 92093 USA

M

Massimo Scanziani

Department of Physiology, University of California San Francisco

S

Shadi A. Dayeh

Integrated Electronics and Biointerfaces Laboratory Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of California San Diego La Jolla CA 92093 USA