Resumen
Nanostructured electrodes for the electrical stimulation of cells in culture, devices, systems and associated procedures. The present invention refers to an electrode (1) for cellular electrical stimulation, adapted for insertion in a miniaturized plate (2) with mini-wells (3) for cell culture, comprising at least one material arranged as substrate (4) and an electrically conductive material arranged on said substrate (4). Advantageously, the electrically conductive material is formed by metallic nanopillars (5), deposited on the substrate (4) through deposition with angle of incidence (GLAD) with magnetron sputtering. The invention also refers to different devices, systems, uses and procedures associated with said electrodes (1). (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)
Reivindicaciones
1. A device for the electrical cell stimulation, comprising: - a cell culture well (3) plate (2); and - an electrode (1) adapted for the electrical stimulation of a cell culture housed in one or more wells (3) of the plate (2), wherein the electrode (1) comprises at least one material disposed as a substrate (4) and an electrically conductive material disposed on said substrate (4);characterised in that the electrically conductive material is formed by metallic nanopillars (5), deposited on the substrate (4) by means of GLAD with magnetron cathode sputtering. 2. The device according to the preceding claim, wherein the metallic nanopillars (5) comprise titanium, gold, and/or platinum. 3. The device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the substrate (4) comprises silicon, quartz, glass, glass or quartz coated with a thin film of a transparent conductive oxide (TCO), such as fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) or indium tin oxide (ITO). 4. The device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the disposition of the nanopillars (5) on the substrate (4) has a glancing angle comprised between 0°-70° with respect to the normal of said substrate (4), which corresponds to a glancing angle deposition α ≥ 70° and a gas pressure during said deposition P <_ 5 Pa. 5. The device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the length of the nanopillars (5) is comprised between 10 and 4000 nm. 6. The device according to the preceding claim, wherein the length of the nanopillars (5) is comprised between 10 and 300 nm. 7. The device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the diameter and/or the mean separation of the nanopillars (5) are comprised between 30 and 100 nm. 8. The device according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of electrodes (1) adapted for the insertion thereof into a corresponding disposition of cell culture well (3) plates (2). 9. The device according to the preceding claim, wherein the electrodes (1) are disposed in pairs and adapted for the insertion of each pair of electrodes (1) into a plate (2) or a corresponding cell culture well (3). 10. The device according to any of claims 8-9, wherein the electrodes (1) are fixed to a PCB (7) comprising a connection (8) to a function generator and/or to an electrical power source. 11. The device according to the preceding claim, wherein the electrodes (1) are fixed to the PCB (7) by means of a conductive epoxy adhesive. 12. The device according to any of claims 10-11, further comprising a transparent upper cover (6), which houses the PCB (7) and the electrodes (1). 13. The device according to any of claims 10-12, wherein the PCB (7) comprises independent connections (8) between at least two electrodes (1) and the function generator/electrical power source. 14. The device according to any of claims 10-13, wherein the PCB (7) comprises a set of holes (9) aligned with corresponding openings of the plate (2) or with the cell culture wells (3). 15. A system for electrical cell stimulation, comprising a device according to any of claims 8-14, in combination with a disposition of plates (2) or of cell culture mini-wells (3). 16. The system according to the preceding claim, wherein the plate (2) and the cell culture wells (3) are integrated in a monolithic piece and divided by walls (10) formed in said piece. 17. The system according to any of claims 15-16, wherein the plates (2) and/or the cell culture wells (3) exhibit a prism or cube shape, and the electrodes (1) are disposed in pairs, wherein each of the electrodes (1) of the pair is disposed on corresponding opposite sides of the plates (2) or of the cell culture wells (3). 18. The system according to any of claims 15-17, wherein the plates (2) and/or the cell culture wells (3) comprise a transparent lower surface (11), suitable for use with a light microscope, for monitoring a culture contained in the plates (2) or the cell culture wells (3). 19. The system according to the preceding claim, wherein the transparent lower surface (11) is detachable with respect to the plate (2) or the cell culture wells (3). 20. Use of GLAD with magnetron cathode sputtering for the manufacture of cell stimulation electrodes (1). 21. A method of manufacturing cell stimulation electrodes (1), comprising: - disposing a first material as a substrate (4) and depositing a second electrically conductive material on said substrate (4), by means of GLAD with magnetron cathode sputtering, forming a disposition of nanopillars (5) thereon; and - adapting said electrodes (1) for the insertion thereof into a cell culture well (3) plate (2).
