Introduction

Electrophysiological recording and stimulation of cardiac tissues are crucial for disease modeling and toxic screening in vitro. However, traditional planar MEAs do not resemble the native environment of the heart, as they are rigid and only allow for a limited contact surface for electrical interfacing. To overcome this, we're currently developing flexible scaffolds for 3D tissue engineering that incorporate electrodes for studying cardiac cell assemblies.

Aim & Research Methods

Your project will consist of the following parts:

1. Optimization of the materials and the fabrication process for self-foldable electrodes
2. Electrochemical characterization of the electrodes (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, etc.)
3. Possible detection of signals from cardiomyocytes

You will work in an interdisciplinary team and will learn about:

• Functional and structural biocompatible materials
• Microfabrication techniques (e.g., photolithography, laser patterning)
• Electrochemical characterization methods
• Cell culture

Requirements

1. Dedication and motivation to work self-reliantly on a research topic
2. Excellent experimental skills
3. Experience in cell culture and cleanroom work desired
4. Background: engineering (biomedical, electrical, mechanical), physics, materials science, chemistry, or similar

Possible starting date & further information

The starting date is as soon as possible. The work will be conducted at the Munich Institute of Biomedical Engineering (MIBE) and the Central Electronics and Information Technology Laboratory (ZEITlab) at Garching Forchungszentrum. The scope of this project is meant for a 6-12 month Master's thesis. For further information, please contact Alonso Ingar Romero.

Additional information