Nanoporous dialysis membrane for microfluidic neural probes

Understanding the functionality of neural circuits is important for not only research but also the development of novel treatment of neurological disorders. As the communication between cells in the brain is mainly via neurochemicals, the detection of neurochemicals is vital to understand brain functionality. Neural probes, as a microscale implant for brains, can be used to detect the neurochemicals. Among various kinds of neural probes, dialysis neural probes have high spatial resolution, but they are limited by low temporal resolution. In order to improve temporal resolution, the dialysis process needs to be faster where molecules transport through the dialysis membrane on the neural probe. The thesis focuses on the fabrication, transfer, and characterization of two potential candidates, nanoporous graphene membrane and nanoporous silicon membrane, for the dialysis membrane in a neural probe. For both membranes, after the process of fabrication and transfer, the intactness is inspected. Nanoporous graphene membranes have a non-uniform nanoporous pattern and many defects. Nanoporous silicon membranes have a uniform pattern, and the membranes after transfer can be suspended over a hole with size of 37×37 μm^2. For nanoporous silicon membranes, the mechanical strength and adhesion to the substrate are tested with penetration into agar, which has strength similar to that of mouse brain. After four penetrations, the intactness of nanoporous silicon membranes is barely degraded, and the membranes are at the same positions as before the test. Nanoporous silicon membranes are used as the dialysis membranes for methyl orange in aqueous solution. The diffusion coefficient of methyl orange is 1.45×10^(-8) cm^2/s. The fabrication and characterization of nanoporous membranes in the thesis will help lead to the integration of the dialysis membranes onto neural probes, which will aid in understanding the functionality of neural circuits.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Electrical & Computer Engr

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2020

Author dc:creator

• Yan, Yifei

Contributors dc:contributor

• Vlasov, Yurii

• Nanoporous membrane
• Dialysis
• Graphene
• Silicon

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2020 Yifei Yan

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/108624

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/108624