This work aims to provide stakeholders with an accessible overview of the project’s technological strides, and the implications of these developments for future research and applications. The primary objective of WP2 in UPSIDE is to enhance the resolution and efficacy of neurophysiological data acquisition. Traditional methods face challenges in spatial resolution and signal quality, which can impede the identification of precise neural biomarkers. The goal is to develop conformable neural probes with a high electrode density that can record local field potentials (LFPs) with greater accuracy and less invasive procedures. In response to this challenge, we have successfully designed and fabricated two generations of neural probes both employing polymer-based MEAs. The first generation was established with a robust quality control process, and its in vivo testing has successfully recorded high-resolution LFP data. The second-generation probes are built on know-how from its processor and offer an increased electrode density (>2000 electrodes/cm²) for even higher resolution recordings. In vivo experiments performed with the first-generation probes at GU and second-generation probes at UF have provided high-quality LFP data, demonstrating the probes’ capacity for precise neural recordings. This advancement represents a significant step in our project. This deliverable consolidates the efforts of developing a scalable interconnection strategy, potentially translatable to other technologies, and instrumental for integrating with different interfaces. The data gathered from the experiments have laid the groundwork for further analysis and subsequent experiments that are expected to reveal relevant neural biomarkers. The high-density probes designed, and the quality of data recorded (in vivo) denote the successful completion of this report.
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