Automatic microcircuit formation based on gold-coated SU-8 microrods via dielectrophoresis

To explore the application of the characteristics of metallic microparticles, alternating current electric trapping of the SU-8 microrods coated with a thin gold layer by the chemical approach is investigated. Positive dielectrophoresis is used to absorb the gold-coated SU-8 microrods at the edge of the parallel electrodes, thereby forming chains to connect the electrodes. This is a fast automatic microcircuit formation process. Moreover, a non-charged molecule is modified on the surface of the gold-coated SU-8 microrod, and the modified microrods are controlled by the alternating electric field to form a number of chains. The different chains between the parallel electrodes consist of various parallel circuits. In order to compare these chains with different electric surfaces, the impedances of the metallic and modified microrods are measured and compared, and the results show that the gold-coated microrods act as pure resistors, while the microrods functionalized by a non-charged molecule behave as good capacitors.

Computational model investigating the effect of magnetic field on neural–astrocyte microcircuit

Extremely low-frequency magnetic field is widely used as a noninvasive stimulation method in clinical practice and basic research. Electrical field induced from magnetic pulse can decrease or increase neuronal electrical activity. However, the cellular mechanism underlying the effects of magnetic field is not clear from experimental data. Recent studies have demonstrated that "non-neuronal" cells, especially astrocytes, may be the potential effector for transcranial magnetic stimulation(TMS). In the present study, we implemented a neural–astrocyte microcircuit computational model based on hippocampal architecture to investigate the biological effects of different magnetic field frequencies on cells. The purpose of the present study is to elucidate the main influencing factors of MS to allow a better understanding of its mechanisms.Our model reproduced the basic characteristics of the neuron and astrocyte response to different magnetic stimulation. The results predict that interneurons with lower firing thresholds were more active in magnetic fields by contrast to pyramidal neurons. And the synaptic coupling strength between the connected neurons may be one of the critical factor to affect the effect of magnetic field on cells. In addition, the simulations show that astrocytes can decrease or increase slow inward currents(SICs) to finely tune neuronal excitation, which suggests their key role in excitatory–inhibitory balance. The interaction between neurons and astrocytes may represent a novel target for effective therapeutic strategies involving magnetic stimulation.

Exploration of photosensitive polyimide as the modification layer in thin film microcircuit

Positive type photosensitive polyimide is used as the modification layer in the thin film transistors production process. The photosensitive polyimide is not only used as the second insulating layer, it can also be used instead of a mask because of the photosensitivity. A suitable curing condition can help photosensitive polyimide form the high performance polyimide with orderly texture inside, and the performance of imidization depends on the precise control of temperature, time, and heat control during the curing process. Therefore, experiments of different stepped up heating tests are made, and the ability of protecting silicon dioxide is analyzed.

Electrical coupling regulates layer 1 interneuron microcircuit formation in the neocortex

With the support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,the research team led by Prof.Yu Yongchun(禹永春)at the Institutes of Brain Science,Fudan University,revealed the vital roles of electrical coupling in chemical synapse formation between interneurons,which was published in Nature Communications(2016,7:12229,DOI:10.1038).Although the excitatory neurons in the neocortex are electrically coupled only during early development,