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Sawada, Tomoyo; Barbosa, André R; Araujo, Bruno; McCord, Alejandra E; D’Ignazio, Laura; Benjamin, Kynon J M; Sheehan, Bonna; Zabolocki, Michael; Feltrin, Arthur; Arora, Ria; Brandtjen, Anna C; Kleinman, Joel E; Hyde, Thomas M; Bardy, Cedric; Weinberger, Daniel R; Paquola, Apuã C M; Erwin, Jennifer A American Journal of Psychiatry, 2023, ISSN: 0002-953X. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: 3D Culture, Activity Scan Assay, HD-MEA, MaxTwo, Network Assay, Organoids Levi, Timothee; Beaubois, Romain; Cheslet, Jérémy; Duenki, Tomoya; Khoyratee, Farad; Branchereau, Pascal; Ikeuchi, Yoshiho BiœmuS: A new tool for neurological disorders studies through real-time emulation and hybridization using biomimetic Spiking Neural Network Journal Article Research Square, 2023. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: closed loop stimulation, MaxOne, MEA Technology, Organoids Xu, He Jax; Yao, Yao; Yao, Fenyong; Chen, Jiehui; Li, Meishi; Yang, Xianfa; Li, Sheng; Lu, Fangru; Hu, Ping; He, Shuijin; Peng, Guangdun; Jing, Naihe Generation of functional posterior spinal motor neurons from hPSCs-derived human spinal cord neural progenitor cells Journal Article Cell Regeneration, 2023. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: 2D Neuronal Culture, Activity Scan Assay, Axon Tracking Assay, HD-MEA, IPSC, MaxOne, MEA Technology, Network Assay, Organoids Cai, Hongwei; Ao, Zheng; Tian, Chunhui; Wu, Zhuhao; Liu, Hongcheng; Tchieu, Jason; Gu, Mingxia; Mackie, Ken; and Guo, Feng Brain Organoid Computing for Artificial Intelligence Journal Article bioRxiv, 2023. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: HD-MEA, Machine Learning, MaxOne, MEA Technology, Modeling, Organoids, Stimulation Kim, Eunhee; Jeon, Sungwoong; Yang, Yoon-Sil; Jin, Chaewon; Kim, Jin-young; Oh, Yong- Seok; Rah, Jong-Cheol; and Choi, Hongsoo A Neurospheroid-Based Microrobot for Targeted Neural Connections in a Hippocampal Slice Journal Article Advanced Materials, 2023. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: MaxOne, microrobot, Organoids, Slices Han, Xiaobo; Matsuda, Naoki; Ishibashi, Yuto; Odawara, Aoi; Takahashi, Sayuri; Tooi, Norie; Kinoshita, Koshi; Suzuki, Ikuro A functional neuron maturation device provides convenient application on microelectrode array for neural network measurement Journal Article Biomaterials Research, 2022. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: HD-MEA, IPSC, MaxOne, Neuronal cell culture, Organoids, Primary Neuronal Cell Culture Lent, Jonas Van; Vendredy, Leen; Adriaenssens, Elias; Authier, Tatiana Da Silva; Asselbergh, Bob; Kaji, Marcus; Weckhuysen, Sarah; Bosch, Ludo Van Den; Baets, Jonathan; Timmerman, Vincent Downregulation of PMP22 ameliorates myelin defects in iPSC-derived human organoid cultures of CMT1A Journal Article Brain, 2022. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Activity Scan Assay, Axon Tracking Assay, MaxTwo, Network Assay, Organoids Tran, Hoang-Dai; Shin, Min-Kyoung; Denman, Charlotte; Han, Run-Run; Kuhn, Bernd; Arbuthnott, Gordon; Jo, Junghyun Generation of Human Striatal-Midbrain Assembloids From Human Pluripotent Stem Cells to Model Alpha-Synuclein Propagation Journal Article Sneak Peek - Cell Press, 2022. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: MaxOne, Organoids Sharf Tal; Molen, Tjitse; Glasauer Stella; Guzman Elmer; Buccino Alessio; Luna Gabriel; Cheng Zhuowei; Audouard Morgane; Ranasinghe Kamalini; Kudo Kiwamu; Nagarajan Srikantan; Tovar Kenneth; Petzold Linda; Hierlemann Andreas; Hansma Paul; ; Kosik, Kenneth; Functional neuronal circuitry and oscillatory dynamics in human brain organoids Journal Article Nature Communications, 2022. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: MaxOne, Neuronal Networks, Organoids Schröter Manuel; Wang, Congwei; Terrigno Marco; Hornauer Philipp; Huang Ziqiang; Jagasia Ravi; Hierlemann Andreas Functional imaging of brain organoids using high-density microelectrode arrays Journal Article MRS Bulletin, 2022. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: HD-MEA, MaxOne, MaxTwo, Organoids Paulsen, Bruna; Velasco, Silvia; Kedaigle, Amanda J; Pigoni, Martina; Quadrato, Giorgia; Deo, Anthony J; Adiconis, Xian; Uzquiano, Ana; Sartore, Rafaela; Yang, Sung Min; Simmons, Sean K; Symvoulidis, Panagiotis; Kim, Kwanho; Tsafou, Kalliopi; Podury, Archana; Abbate, Catherine; Tucewicz, Ashley; Smith, Samantha N; Albanese, Alexandre; Barrett, Lindy; Sanjana, Neville E; Shi, Xi; Chung, Kwanghun; Lage, Kasper; Boyden, Edward S; andJoshua Levin, Aviv Regev Z; Arlotta, Paola Autism genes converge on asynchronous development of shared neuron classes Journal Article Nature, 602 , pp. 268–273, 2022. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: HD-MEA, MaxOne, Organoids Sharf, Tal; van der Molen, Tjitse; Guzman, Elmer; Glasauer, Stella M K; Luna, Gabriel; Cheng, Zhouwei; Audouard, Morgane; Ranasinghe, Kamalini G; Kudo, Kiwamu; Nagarajan, Srikantan S; Tovar, Kenneth R; Petzold, Linda R; Hansma, Paul K; Kosik, Kenneth S Intrinsic network activity in human brain organoids Journal Article BioRxiv, 2021. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: ETH-CMOS-MEA, Neuronal Networks, Organoids Cowan, Cameron S; Renner, Magdalena; Gennaro, Martina De; Gross-Scherf, Brigitte; Goldblum, David; Hou, Yanyan; Munz, Martin; Rodrigues, Tiago M; Krol, Jacek; Szikra, Tamas; Cuttat, Rachel; Waldt, Annick; Papasaikas, Panagiotis; Diggelmann, Roland; Patino-Alvarez, Claudia P; Galliker, Patricia; Spirig, Stefan E; Pavlinic, Dinko; Gerber-Hollbach, Nadine; Schuierer, Sven; Srdanovic, Aldin; Balogh, Marton; Panero, Riccardo; Kusnyerik, Akos; Szabo, Arnold; Stadler, Michael B; Orgül, Selim; Picelli, Simone; Hasler, Pascal W; Hierlemann, Andreas; Scholl, Hendrik P N; Roma, Guglielmo; Nigsch, Florian; Roska, Botond Cell Types of the Human Retina and Its Organoids at Single-Cell Resolution Journal Article CellPress, 182 , pp. 1623–1640, 2020. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: ETH-CMOS-MEA, Organoids Schroter, Manuel; Girr, Monika; Boos, Julia Alicia; Renner, Magdalena; Gazorpak, Mahshid; Gong, Wei; Bartram, Julian; Muller, Jan; Hierlemann, Andreas Mapping neuronal network dynamics in developing cerebral organoids Conference 11th International Meeting on Substrate Integrated Microelectrode Arrays (MEA Meeting) Reutlingen, Germany, 2018. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Neuronal Networks, Organoids2023
title = {Recapitulation of Perturbed Striatal Gene Expression Dynamics of Donor’s Brains With Ventral Forebrain Organoids Derived From the Same Individuals With Schizophrenia},
author = {Tomoyo Sawada and André R. Barbosa and Bruno Araujo and Alejandra E. McCord and Laura D’Ignazio and Kynon J.M. Benjamin and Bonna Sheehan and Michael Zabolocki and Arthur Feltrin and Ria Arora and Anna C. Brandtjen and Joel E. Kleinman and Thomas M. Hyde and Cedric Bardy and Daniel R. Weinberger and Apuã C.M. Paquola and Jennifer A. Erwin},
url = {https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp.20220723},
doi = {10.1176/appi.ajp.20220723},
issn = {0002-953X},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-11-02},
journal = {American Journal of Psychiatry},
abstract = {Objective:
Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that originates during neurodevelopment and has complex genetic and environmental etiologies. Despite decades of clinical evidence of altered striatal function in affected patients, studies examining its cellular and molecular mechanisms in humans are limited. To explore neurodevelopmental alterations in the striatum associated with schizophrenia, the authors established a method for the differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into ventral forebrain organoids (VFOs).
Methods:
VFOs were generated from postmortem dural fibroblast–derived iPSCs of four individuals with schizophrenia and four neurotypical control individuals for whom postmortem caudate genotypes and transcriptomic data were profiled in the BrainSeq neurogenomics consortium. Individuals were selected such that the two groups had nonoverlapping schizophrenia polygenic risk scores (PRSs).
Results:
Single-cell RNA sequencing analyses of VFOs revealed differences in developmental trajectory between schizophrenia and control individuals in which inhibitory neuronal cells from the patients exhibited accelerated maturation. Furthermore, upregulated genes in inhibitory neurons in schizophrenia VFOs showed a significant overlap with upregulated genes in postmortem caudate tissue of individuals with schizophrenia compared with control individuals, including the donors of the iPSC cohort.
Conclusions:
The findings suggest that striatal neurons derived from high-PRS individuals with schizophrenia carry abnormalities that originated during early brain development and that the VFO model can recapitulate disease-relevant cell type–specific neurodevelopmental phenotypes in a dish.},
keywords = {3D Culture, Activity Scan Assay, HD-MEA, MaxTwo, Network Assay, Organoids},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that originates during neurodevelopment and has complex genetic and environmental etiologies. Despite decades of clinical evidence of altered striatal function in affected patients, studies examining its cellular and molecular mechanisms in humans are limited. To explore neurodevelopmental alterations in the striatum associated with schizophrenia, the authors established a method for the differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into ventral forebrain organoids (VFOs).
Methods:
VFOs were generated from postmortem dural fibroblast–derived iPSCs of four individuals with schizophrenia and four neurotypical control individuals for whom postmortem caudate genotypes and transcriptomic data were profiled in the BrainSeq neurogenomics consortium. Individuals were selected such that the two groups had nonoverlapping schizophrenia polygenic risk scores (PRSs).
Results:
Single-cell RNA sequencing analyses of VFOs revealed differences in developmental trajectory between schizophrenia and control individuals in which inhibitory neuronal cells from the patients exhibited accelerated maturation. Furthermore, upregulated genes in inhibitory neurons in schizophrenia VFOs showed a significant overlap with upregulated genes in postmortem caudate tissue of individuals with schizophrenia compared with control individuals, including the donors of the iPSC cohort.
Conclusions:
The findings suggest that striatal neurons derived from high-PRS individuals with schizophrenia carry abnormalities that originated during early brain development and that the VFO model can recapitulate disease-relevant cell type–specific neurodevelopmental phenotypes in a dish.
title = {BiœmuS: A new tool for neurological disorders studies through real-time emulation and hybridization using biomimetic Spiking Neural Network},
author = {Timothee Levi and Romain Beaubois and Jérémy Cheslet and Tomoya Duenki and Farad Khoyratee and Pascal Branchereau and Yoshiho Ikeuchi},
url = {https://www.researchsquare.com},
doi = {10.21203/rs.3.rs-3191285/v1},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-09-15},
journal = {Research Square},
abstract = {Characterization and modeling of biological neural networks is a field opening to major advances in our understanding of the mechanisms governing the functioning of the brain and the different pathologies that can affect it. Recent researches in bioelectronics and neuromorphic engineering lead to the design of the new generation of neuroprosthesis. Here we show a novel real-time, biomimetic and energy-efficient neural network for bio-hybrid experiments and parallel emulation. This novel system is used to investigate and reproduce neural network dynamics. The setup is running on a digital platform using a System on Chip (SoC) featuring both Programmable Logic (PL) and processors in a Processing System (PS) part. The FPGA part is computing the biomimetic and real-time electrical activities of Hodgkin-Huxley neural network while the processors handle monitoring and communication. New methods of resource and power optimization has been applied to the FPGA to allow detailed neuron modeling with synapses showing short term plasticity. The system is validated by comparison with biological data and model. We also demonstrate the feasibility of bio-hybrid experiments with different bio-physical interface and different biological cells. The complete setup achieves communication with a fully flexible real-time device thus constituting a step towards neuromorphic-based neuroprosthesis for bioelectrical therapeutics.},
keywords = {closed loop stimulation, MaxOne, MEA Technology, Organoids},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
title = {Generation of functional posterior spinal motor neurons from hPSCs-derived human spinal cord neural progenitor cells},
author = {He Jax Xu and Yao Yao and Fenyong Yao and Jiehui Chen and Meishi Li and Xianfa Yang and Sheng Li and Fangru Lu and Ping Hu and Shuijin He and Guangdun Peng and Naihe Jing},
url = {https://cellregeneration.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s13619-023-00159-6},
doi = {10.1186/s13619-023-00159-6},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-03-23},
journal = {Cell Regeneration},
abstract = {Spinal motor neurons deficiency results in a series of devastating disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and spinal cord injury (SCI). These disorders are currently incurable, while human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs)-derived spinal motor neurons are promising but suffered from inappropriate regional identity and functional immaturity for the study and treatment of posterior spinal cord related injuries. In this study, we have established human spinal cord neural progenitor cells (hSCNPCs) via hPSCs differentiated neuromesodermal progenitors (NMPs) and demonstrated the hSCNPCs can be continuously expanded up to 40 passages. hSCNPCs can be rapidly differentiated into posterior spinal motor neurons with high efficiency. The functional maturity has been examined in detail. Moreover, a co-culture scheme which is compatible for both neural and muscular differentiation is developed to mimic the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) formation in vitro. Together, these studies highlight the potential avenues for generating clinically relevant spinal motor neurons and modeling neuromuscular diseases through our defined hSCNPCs.},
keywords = {2D Neuronal Culture, Activity Scan Assay, Axon Tracking Assay, HD-MEA, IPSC, MaxOne, MEA Technology, Network Assay, Organoids},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
title = {Brain Organoid Computing for Artificial Intelligence},
author = {Hongwei Cai and Zheng Ao and Chunhui Tian and Zhuhao Wu and Hongcheng Liu and Jason Tchieu and Mingxia Gu and Ken Mackie and and Feng Guo},
url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.02.28.530502v1},
doi = {10.1101/2023.02.28.530502},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-03-01},
journal = {bioRxiv},
abstract = {Brain-inspired hardware emulates the structure and working principles of a biological brain and may address the hardware bottleneck for fast-growing artificial intelligence (AI). Current brain-inspired silicon chips are promising but still limit their power to fully mimic brain function for AI computing. Here, we develop Brainoware, living AI hardware that harnesses the computation power of 3D biological neural networks in a brain organoid. Brain-like 3D in vitro cultures compute by receiving and sending information via a multielectrode array. Applying spatiotemporal electrical stimulation, this approach not only exhibits nonlinear dynamics and fading memory properties but also learns from training data. Further experiments demonstrate real-world applications in solving non-linear equations. This approach may provide new insights into AI hardware.
},
keywords = {HD-MEA, Machine Learning, MaxOne, MEA Technology, Modeling, Organoids, Stimulation},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
title = {A Neurospheroid-Based Microrobot for Targeted Neural Connections in a Hippocampal Slice},
author = {Eunhee Kim and Sungwoong Jeon and Yoon-Sil Yang and Chaewon Jin and Jin-young Kim and Yong- Seok Oh and Jong-Cheol Rah and and Hongsoo Choi},
url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adma.202208747?af=R},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202208747},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-01-14},
journal = {Advanced Materials},
abstract = {Functional restoration by the re-establishment of cellular or neural connections remains a major challenge in targeted cell therapy and regenerative medicine. Recent advances in magnetically powered microrobots have shown potential for use in controlled and targeted cell therapy. In this study, a magnetic neurospheroid (Mag-Neurobot) that could form both structural and functional connections with an organotypic hippocampal slice (OHS) was assessed using an ex vivo model as a bridge toward in vivo application. The Mag-Neurobot consists of hippocampal neurons and superparamagnetic nanoparticles (SPIONs); it is precisely and skillfully manipulated by an external magnetic field. Furthermore, the results of patch-clamp recordings of hippocampal neurons indicated that neither the neuronal excitabilities nor the synaptic functions of SPION-loaded cells were significantly affected. Analysis of neural activity propagation using high-density multi-electrode arrays showed that the delivered Mag-Neurobot was functionally connected with the OHS. The applications of this study include functional verification for targeted cell delivery through the characterization of novel synaptic connections and the functionalities of transported and transplanted cells. The success of the Mag-Neurobot opens up new avenues of research and application; it offers a test platform for functional neural connections and neural regenerative processes through cell transplantation.},
keywords = {MaxOne, microrobot, Organoids, Slices},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}2022
title = {A functional neuron maturation device provides convenient application on microelectrode array for neural network measurement},
author = {Xiaobo Han and Naoki Matsuda and Yuto Ishibashi and Aoi Odawara and Sayuri Takahashi and Norie Tooi and Koshi Kinoshita and Ikuro Suzuki },
url = {https://biomaterialsres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40824-022-00324-z},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s40824-022-00324-z},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-12-20},
journal = {Biomaterials Research},
abstract = {Background
Microelectrode array (MEA) systems are valuable for in vitro assessment of neurotoxicity and drug efficiency. However, several difficulties such as protracted functional maturation and high experimental costs hinder the use of MEA analysis requiring human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). Neural network functional parameters are also needed for in vitro to in vivo extrapolation.
Methods
In the present study, we produced a cost effective nanofiber culture platform, the SCAD device, for long-term culture of hiPSC-derived neurons and primary peripheral neurons. The notable advantage of SCAD device is convenient application on multiple MEA systems for neuron functional analysis.
Results
We showed that the SCAD device could promote functional maturation of cultured hiPSC-derived neurons, and neurons responded appropriately to convulsant agents. Furthermore, we successfully analyzed parameters for in vitro to in vivo extrapolation, i.e., low-frequency components and synaptic propagation velocity of the signal, potentially reflecting neural network functions from neurons cultured on SCAD device. Finally, we measured the axonal conduction velocity of peripheral neurons. Conclusions: Neurons cultured on SCAD devices might constitute a reliable in vitro platform to investigate neuron functions, drug efficacy and toxicity, and neuropathological mechanisms by MEA.},
keywords = {HD-MEA, IPSC, MaxOne, Neuronal cell culture, Organoids, Primary Neuronal Cell Culture},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Microelectrode array (MEA) systems are valuable for in vitro assessment of neurotoxicity and drug efficiency. However, several difficulties such as protracted functional maturation and high experimental costs hinder the use of MEA analysis requiring human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). Neural network functional parameters are also needed for in vitro to in vivo extrapolation.
Methods
In the present study, we produced a cost effective nanofiber culture platform, the SCAD device, for long-term culture of hiPSC-derived neurons and primary peripheral neurons. The notable advantage of SCAD device is convenient application on multiple MEA systems for neuron functional analysis.
Results
We showed that the SCAD device could promote functional maturation of cultured hiPSC-derived neurons, and neurons responded appropriately to convulsant agents. Furthermore, we successfully analyzed parameters for in vitro to in vivo extrapolation, i.e., low-frequency components and synaptic propagation velocity of the signal, potentially reflecting neural network functions from neurons cultured on SCAD device. Finally, we measured the axonal conduction velocity of peripheral neurons. Conclusions: Neurons cultured on SCAD devices might constitute a reliable in vitro platform to investigate neuron functions, drug efficacy and toxicity, and neuropathological mechanisms by MEA.
title = {Downregulation of PMP22 ameliorates myelin defects in iPSC-derived human organoid cultures of CMT1A},
author = {Jonas Van Lent and Leen Vendredy and Elias Adriaenssens and Tatiana Da Silva Authier and Bob Asselbergh and Marcus Kaji and Sarah Weckhuysen and Ludo Van Den Bosch and Jonathan Baets and Vincent Timmerman},
url = {https://academic.oup.com/brain/advance-article/doi/10.1093/brain/awac475/6895197?login=false},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awac475},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-12-12},
journal = {Brain},
abstract = {Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease is the most common inherited disorder of the peripheral nervous system. CMT1A accounts for 40-50% of all cases and is caused by a duplication of the PMP22 gene on chromosome 17, leading to dysmyelination in the peripheral nervous system. Patient-derived models to study such myelination defects are lacking as the in vitro generation of human myelinating Schwann cells has proven to be particularly challenging. Here, we present an iPSC-derived organoid culture, containing various cell types of the peripheral nervous system, including myelinating human Schwann cells, which mimics the human peripheral nervous system. Single-cell analysis confirmed the peripheral nervous system-like cellular composition and provides insight into the developmental trajectory. We used this organoid-model to study disease signatures of CMT1A, revealing early ultrastructural myelin alterations, including increased myelin periodic line distance and hypermyelination of small axons. Furthermore, we observed the presence of onion bulb-like formations in a later developmental stage. These hallmarks were not present in the for CMT1A-corrected isogenic line or in a CMT2A iPSC line, supporting the notion that these alterations are specific to CMT1A. Downregulation of PMP22 expression using short-hairpin RNAs or a combinatorial drug consisting of baclofen, naltrexone hydrochloride and D-sorbitol, was able to ameliorate the myelin defects in CMT1A-organoids. In summary, this self-organizing organoid model is able to capture biologically meaningful features of the disease and capture the physiological complexity, forms an excellent model to study demyelinating diseases, and supports the therapeutic approach of reducing PMP22 expression.},
keywords = {Activity Scan Assay, Axon Tracking Assay, MaxTwo, Network Assay, Organoids},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
title = {Generation of Human Striatal-Midbrain Assembloids From Human Pluripotent Stem Cells to Model Alpha-Synuclein Propagation},
author = {Hoang-Dai Tran and Min-Kyoung Shin and Charlotte Denman and Run-Run Han and Bernd Kuhn and Gordon Arbuthnott and Junghyun Jo},
url = {https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4288935},
doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4288935},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-12-05},
journal = {Sneak Peek - Cell Press},
abstract = {Animal models of the pathology of Parkinson’s disease (PD) have provided most of the treatments to date, but the disease is restricted to human patients. In vitro models using human pluripotent stem cell-derived neural organoids have provided improved access to study PD etiology. Here, we generated human striatal and midbrain organoids and assembled both regionalized neural organoids to form human striatal-midbrain assembloids (hSMAs), mimicking a part of basal ganglia. Both the nigrostriatal and striatonigral pathways are present and electrophysiologically active in the hSMAs. hSMA development in the presence of increased alpha-synuclein (α-syn) from SNCA overexpression, induced nigrostriatal system damage, which is typical of the disease. Using the α-syn-mKO2 reporter and bimolecular fluorescence complementation system, we demonstrated that fluorescent α-syn is transported from the striatal area tothe dopaminergic (DA) neurons of the midbrain area. Furthermore, insoluble α-syn aggregated over time in DA neurons similar to Lewy bodies in human patients. Such assembloids are a compelling new platform to develop novel PD therapeutic strategies.},
keywords = {MaxOne, Organoids},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
title = {Functional neuronal circuitry and oscillatory dynamics in human brain organoids},
author = {Sharf, Tal; Molen, Tjitse; Glasauer, Stella; Guzman, Elmer; Buccino, Alessio; Luna, Gabriel; Cheng, Zhuowei; Audouard, Morgane; Ranasinghe, Kamalini; Kudo, Kiwamu; Nagarajan, Srikantan; Tovar, Kenneth; Petzold, Linda; Hierlemann, Andreas; Hansma, Paul; and Kosik, Kenneth;
},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-32115-4},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-07-29},
journal = {Nature Communications},
abstract = {Human brain organoids replicate much of the cellular diversity and developmental anatomy of the human brain. However, the physiology of neuronal circuits within organoids remains under-explored. With high-density CMOS microelectrode arrays and shank electrodes, we captured spontaneous extracellular activity from brain organoids derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells. We inferred functional connectivity from spike timing, revealing a large number of weak connections within a skeleton of significantly fewer strong connections. A benzodiazepine increased the uniformity of firing patterns and decreased the relative fraction of weakly connected edges. Our analysis of the local field potential demonstrate that brain organoids contain neuronal assemblies of sufficient size and functional connectivity to co-activate and generate field potentials from their collective transmembrane currents that phase-lock to spiking activity. These results point to the potential of brain organoids for the study of neuropsychiatric diseases, drug action, and the effects of external stimuli upon neuronal networks.},
keywords = {MaxOne, Neuronal Networks, Organoids},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
title = {Functional imaging of brain organoids using high-density microelectrode arrays},
author = {Schröter, Manuel; Wang, Congwei; Terrigno, Marco; Hornauer, Philipp; Huang, Ziqiang; Jagasia, Ravi; Hierlemann, Andreas},
url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1557/s43577-022-00282-w},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-06-30},
journal = {MRS Bulletin},
abstract = {Studies have provided evidence that human cerebral organoids (hCOs) recapitulate fundamental milestones of early brain development, but many important questions regarding their functionality and electrophysiological properties persist. High-density microelectrode arrays (HD-MEAs) represent an attractive analysis platform to perform functional studies of neuronal networks at the cellular and network scale. Here, we use HD-MEAs to derive large-scale electrophysiological recordings from sliced hCOs. We record the activity of hCO slices over several weeks and probe observed neuronal dynamics pharmacologically. Moreover, we present results on how the obtained recordings can be spike-sorted and subsequently studied across scales. For example, we show how to track single neurons across several days on the HD-MEA and how to infer axonal action potential velocities. We also infer putative functional connectivity from hCO recordings. The introduced methodology will contribute to a better understanding of developing neuronal networks in brain organoids and provide new means for their functional characterization.},
keywords = {HD-MEA, MaxOne, MaxTwo, Organoids},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
title = {Autism genes converge on asynchronous development of shared neuron classes},
author = {Bruna Paulsen and Silvia Velasco and Amanda J. Kedaigle and Martina Pigoni and Giorgia Quadrato and Anthony J. Deo and Xian Adiconis and Ana Uzquiano and Rafaela Sartore and Sung Min Yang and Sean K. Simmons and Panagiotis Symvoulidis and Kwanho Kim and Kalliopi Tsafou and Archana Podury and Catherine Abbate and Ashley Tucewicz and Samantha N. Smith and Alexandre Albanese and Lindy Barrett and Neville E. Sanjana and Xi Shi and Kwanghun Chung and Kasper Lage and Edward S. Boyden and Aviv Regev andJoshua Z. Levin and Paola Arlotta },
url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-04358-6},
doi = {10.1038/s41586-021-04358-6},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-02-02},
journal = {Nature},
volume = {602},
pages = {268–273},
abstract = {Genetic risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with hundreds of genes spanning a wide range of biological functions1,2,3,4,5,6. The alterations in the human brain resulting from mutations in these genes remain unclear. Furthermore, their phenotypic manifestation varies across individuals7,8. Here we used organoid models of the human cerebral cortex to identify cell-type-specific developmental abnormalities that result from haploinsufficiency in three ASD risk genes—SUV420H1 (also known as KMT5B), ARID1B and CHD8—in multiple cell lines from different donors, using single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis of more than 745,000 cells and proteomic analysis of individual organoids, to identify phenotypic convergence. Each of the three mutations confers asynchronous development of two main cortical neuronal lineages—γ-aminobutyric-acid-releasing (GABAergic) neurons and deep-layer excitatory projection neurons—but acts through largely distinct molecular pathways. Although these phenotypes are consistent across cell lines, their expressivity is influenced by the individual genomic context, in a manner that is dependent on both the risk gene and the developmental defect. Calcium imaging in intact organoids shows that these early-stage developmental changes are followed by abnormal circuit activity. This research uncovers cell-type-specific neurodevelopmental abnormalities that are shared across ASD risk genes and are finely modulated by human genomic context, finding convergence in the neurobiological basis of how different risk genes contribute to ASD pathology.},
keywords = {HD-MEA, MaxOne, Organoids},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}2021
title = {Intrinsic network activity in human brain organoids},
author = {Tal Sharf and Tjitse van der Molen and Elmer Guzman and Stella M.K. Glasauer and Gabriel Luna and Zhouwei Cheng and Morgane Audouard and Kamalini G. Ranasinghe and Kiwamu Kudo and Srikantan S. Nagarajan and Kenneth R. Tovar and Linda R. Petzold and Paul K. Hansma and Kenneth S. Kosik},
url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.01.28.428643v1},
doi = {10.1101/2021.01.28.428643},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-28},
journal = {BioRxiv},
abstract = {Human brain organoids replicate much of the cellular diversity and developmental anatomy of the human brain. However, the physiological behavior of neuronal circuits within organoids remains relatively under-explored. With high-density CMOS microelectrode arrays and shank electrodes, we probed broadband and three-dimensional spontaneous activity of human brain organoids. These recordings simultaneously captured local field potentials (LFPs) and single unit activity. From spiking activity, we estimated a directed functional connectivity graph of synchronous neural network activity which showed a large number of weak functional connections enmeshed within a network skeleton of significantly fewer strong connections. Increasing the intrinsic inhibitory tone with a benzodiazepine altered the functional network graph of the organoid by suppressing the network skeleton. Simultaneously examining the spontaneous LFPs and their phase alignment to spiking showed that spike bursts were coherent with theta oscillations in the LFPs. An ensemble of spikes phase-locked to theta frequency oscillations were strongly interconnected as a sub-network within the larger network in which they were embedded. Our results demonstrate that human brain organoids have self-organized neuronal assemblies of sufficient size, cellular orientation, and functional connectivity to co-activate and generate field potentials from their collective transmembrane currents that phase-lock to spiking activity. These results point to the potential of brain organoids for the study of neuropsychiatric diseases, drug mechanisms, and the effects of external stimuli upon neuronal networks.},
keywords = {ETH-CMOS-MEA, Neuronal Networks, Organoids},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}2020
title = {Cell Types of the Human Retina and Its Organoids at Single-Cell Resolution},
author = {Cameron S. Cowan and Magdalena Renner and Martina De Gennaro and Brigitte Gross-Scherf and David Goldblum and Yanyan Hou and Martin Munz and Tiago M. Rodrigues and Jacek Krol and Tamas Szikra and Rachel Cuttat and Annick Waldt and Panagiotis Papasaikas and Roland Diggelmann and Claudia P. Patino-Alvarez and Patricia Galliker and Stefan E. Spirig and Dinko Pavlinic and Nadine Gerber-Hollbach and Sven Schuierer and Aldin Srdanovic and Marton Balogh and Riccardo Panero and Akos Kusnyerik and Arnold Szabo and Michael B. Stadler and Selim Orgül and Simone Picelli and Pascal W. Hasler and Andreas Hierlemann and Hendrik P.N. Scholl and Guglielmo Roma and Florian Nigsch and Botond Roska},
url = {https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(20)31004-7?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0092867420310047%3Fshowall%3Dtrue},
doi = {10.1016/j.cell.2020.08.013},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-09-17},
journal = {CellPress},
volume = {182},
pages = { 1623–1640},
abstract = {Human organoids recapitulating the cell-type diversity and function of their target organ are valuable for basic and translational research. We developed light-sensitive human retinal organoids with multiple nuclear and synaptic layers and functional synapses. We sequenced the RNA of 285,441 single cells from these organoids at seven developmental time points and from the periphery, fovea, pigment epithelium and choroid of light-responsive adult human retinas, and performed histochemistry. Cell types in organoids matured in vitro to a stable “developed” state at a rate similar to human retina development in vivo. Transcriptomes of organoid cell types converged toward the transcriptomes of adult peripheral retinal cell types. Expression of disease-associated genes was cell-type-specific in adult retina, and cell-type specificity was retained in organoids. We implicate unexpected cell types in diseases such as macular degeneration. This resource identifies cellular targets for studying disease mechanisms in organoids and for targeted repair in human retinas.},
keywords = {ETH-CMOS-MEA, Organoids},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}2018
title = {Mapping neuronal network dynamics in developing cerebral organoids},
author = {Manuel Schroter and Monika Girr and Julia Alicia Boos and Magdalena Renner and Mahshid Gazorpak and Wei Gong and Julian Bartram and Jan Muller and Andreas Hierlemann},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/10.3389/conf.fncel.2018.38.00066/event_abstract},
doi = {10.3389/conf.fncel.2018.38.00066},
year = {2018},
date = {2018-07-04},
address = {Reutlingen, Germany},
organization = {11th International Meeting on Substrate Integrated Microelectrode Arrays (MEA Meeting)},
abstract = {Cerebral organoids represent an attractive, novel model system to study early brain development in vitro (Di Lullo and Kriegstein, 2017). Although recent evidence shows that cerebral organoids do recapitulate fundamental milestones of early brain morphogenesis (Lancaster and Knoblich, 2014), the emergence and functionality of brain-organoid neuronal connectivity has not been studied systematically yet. In this study, we apply high-density micro-electrode arrays (MEAs) to record from developing mouse cerebral organoids and characterize their spontaneous neuronal activity. Results provide first evidence on the potential of MEAs as a platform to study the role of spontaneous neuronal activity during brain organoid development and formation of functional microcircuits. },
keywords = {Neuronal Networks, Organoids},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {conference}
}
Selected Publications

High-resolution CMOS MEA platform to study neurons at subcellular, cellular, and network levels
Presenting measurements of neuronal preparations with a novel CMOS-based microelectrode array at high-spatiotemporal-resolution on subcellular, cellular, and network level.
J. Müller, M. Ballini, P. Livi, Y. Chen, M. Radivojevic, A. Shadmani, V. Viswam, I. L. Jones, M. Fiscella, R. Diggelmann, A. Stettler, U. Frey, D. J. Bakkum, and A. Hierlemann, “High-resolution CMOS MEA platform to study neurons at subcellular, cellular, and network levels,” Lab Chip, vol. 15, no. 13, pp. 2767–2780, May 2015.

Revealing Neuronal Function through Microelectrode Array Recordings
Reviewing the current understanding of microelectrode signals and the techniques for analyzing them, with focus on the ongoing advancements in microelectrode technology (in vivo and in vitro) and recent advanced microelectrode array measurement methods that facilitate the understanding of single neurons and network function.
M. E. J. Obien, K. Deligkaris, T. Bullmann, D. J. Bakkum, and U. Frey, “Revealing Neuronal Function through Microelectrode Array Recordings,” Front. Neurosci., 8:423, Jan 2015.
A 1024-Channel CMOS Microelectrode Array With 26,400 Electrodes for Recording and Stimulation of Electrogenic Cells In Vitro
A high-resolution CMOS-based microelectrode array featuring 1,024 low-noise readout channels, 26,400 electrodes at a density of 3,265 electrodes per mm2, including on-chip 10bit ADCs and consuming only 75 mW.
M. Ballini, J. Muller, P. Livi, Y. Chen, U. Frey, A. Stettler, A. Shadmani, V. Viswam, I. L. Jones, D. Jackel, M. Radivojevic, M. K. Lewandowska, W. Gong, M. Fiscella, D. J. Bakkum, F. Heer, and A. Hierlemann, “A 1024-Channel CMOS Microelectrode Array With 26,400 Electrodes for Recording and Stimulation of Electrogenic Cells In Vitro,” IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, vol. 49, no. 11, pp. 2705-2719, 2014.
Tracking axonal action potential propagation on a high-density microelectrode array across hundreds of sites
Demonstrating a method to electrically visualize action potential propagation on axons and revealing
large variations in velocity.
D. J. Bakkum, U. Frey, M. Radivojevic, T. L. Russell, J. Muller, M. Fiscella, H. Takahashi, and A. Hierlemann, “Tracking axonal action potential propagation on a high-density microelectrode array across hundreds of sites,” Nature Communications, 4:2181, Jul 2013.
Microelectronic System for High-Resolution Mapping of Extracellular Electric Fields Applied to Brain Slices
Recording and modeling extracellular action potentials of Purkinje cells at subcellular resolution.
U. Frey, U. Egert, F. Heer, S. Hafizovic, and A. Hierlemann, “Microelectronic System for High-Resolution Mapping of Extracellular Electric Fields Applied to Brain Slices,” Biosensors and Bioelectronics, vol. 24, no. 7, pp. 2191-2198, 2009.
Modulation of Cardiomyocyte Electrical Properties Using Regulated Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 Expression
Controlling BMP-2 expression to modulate the electrophysiological properties of cardiomyocytes using an HD-MEA for detailed monitoring.
C. D. Sanchez-Bustamante, U. Frey, J. M. Kelm, A. Hierlemann, and M. Fussenegger,
“Modulation of Cardiomyocyte Electrical Properties Using Regulated Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 Expression,” Tissue Engineering Part A, vol. 14, no. 12, pp. 1969-1988, 2008.