3Brain develops 3D chip for biosignals

3Brain, a company based in Wädenswill in the canton of Zurich, has developed the Accura-3D chip with and for neuroscientists in collaboration with the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM). According to a press release, this three-dimensional cell-electronic interface facilitates the investigation of cellular 3D networks “at unprecedented depths and resolution”. The microchip processes biosignals in real time and contributes to “expanding the concept of label-free functional imaging beyond optical approaches”, the press release states.

3Brain is the first company in the world to successfully connect cells with sophisticated biosignal processing microchips in vitro. “For many, a three-dimensional cell-electronic interface which can collect cellular information directly from the inside of tissues and organoids might sound like science fiction. We made it a science fact”, explains Alessandro Maccione, Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) and co-founder of 3Brain, in the press release. In the view of Michele Palmieri from CSEM, the development represents something of “a microtechnology masterpiece”.

The bidirectional pixel array technology allows researchers to communicate directly with cells by sending and reading biosignals in a targeted manner, while the tissues being examined remain intact and unharmed. No biological markers, fluorescent proteins or genetic manipulations of the cellular networks are required for this optics-free imaging.

“There is just no comparable solution out there”, comments Mauro Gandolfo, CEO and co-founder of 3Brain, in the press release. “What we really want is to empower researchers to ask new and daring biological questions that have so far been impossible to investigate”, he concludes.