{"id":19,"date":"2026-02-21T23:19:22","date_gmt":"2026-02-21T23:19:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dallasblowers.com\/?post_type=rara-portfolio&p=19"},"modified":"2026-03-19T15:41:23","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T15:41:23","slug":"neural-probe-prototype","status":"publish","type":"rara-portfolio","link":"https:\/\/dallasblowers.com\/?rara-portfolio=neural-probe-prototype","title":{"rendered":"Neural Probe Prototype"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Project Overview<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I worked in a collaborative and cross-functional team to design and fabricate neural probes tailored for electrochemical serotonin detection. By leveraging SU-8 photoresist<\/strong> as a structural substrate and UV-lithography<\/strong> for patterning, we are developing a biocompatible, robust tool capable of monitoring neurotransmitter dynamics with high spatial resolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Challenge<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Serotonin plays a critical role in mood, cognition, and neurological disorders, yet monitoring it in real-time remains a challenge. Traditional metal electrodes are often too rigid, leading to tissue scarring, while existing flexible probes can lack the structural integrity needed for deep-brain insertion. The goal was to bridge that gap: creating a probe that is mechanically stable yet biocompatible for long-term sensing.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Solution: Why SU-8?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We chose SU-8 (an epoxy-based negative photoresist) for its unique properties:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Mechanical Strength:<\/strong> High Young\u2019s modulus allows for thin, needle-like geometries that can penetrate tissue without buckling.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Chemical Inertness:<\/strong> Ensures the probe remains stable in the corrosive biological environment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Process Versatility:<\/strong> Enables the integration of multi-layer metal traces (Gold\/Platinum) for the sensing electrodes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Microfabrication Pipeline<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The fabrication was carried out in a Class 100\/1000 cleanroom environment, utilizing a multi-mask lithographic process:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. Substrate Preparation:<\/strong> Silicon wafer cleaning and dehydration bake.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Base Layer:<\/strong> Spin-coating and curing the initial SU-8 structural layer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Metallization:<\/strong> Sputter deposition and lift-off patterning of 8 Platinum (Pt) micro-electrodes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. Insulation & Passivation:<\/strong> Application of a top SU-8 encapsulation layer, leaving only the sensing “hotspots” and bond pads exposed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    5. Release:<\/strong> Final development and sacrificial layer etching to release the individual flexible probes.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
      \n

      Key Technical Specs:<\/strong> The resulting probes featured a shank width of <200\u03bcm<\/strong>, minimizing displacement during neural insertion. It also used edge electrodes rather than center electrodes to enhance selectivity and reduce the impact of gial scaring from insertion. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

      Skills & Tools<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      • Design:<\/strong> CAD (Klayout) for mask design.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Lithography:<\/strong> Mask aligners, UV exposure, and photoresist chemistry (SU-8 3000 series).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Metrology:<\/strong> SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) for topography<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Project Overview I worked in a collaborative and cross-functional team to design and fabricate neural probes tailored for electrochemical serotonin detection. By leveraging SU-8 photoresist as a structural substrate and UV-lithography for patterning, we are developing a biocompatible, robust tool capable of monitoring neurotransmitter dynamics with high spatial resolution. The Challenge Serotonin plays a critical … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27,"template":"","rara_portfolio_categories":[9,5],"class_list":["post-19","rara-portfolio","type-rara-portfolio","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","rara_portfolio_categories-in-progress","rara_portfolio_categories-physical-fabrication"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dallasblowers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/rara-portfolio\/19","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dallasblowers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/rara-portfolio"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dallasblowers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/rara-portfolio"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dallasblowers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dallasblowers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/27"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dallasblowers.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=19"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"rara_portfolio_categories","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dallasblowers.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Frara_portfolio_categories&post=19"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}