NeuroTech Center

Major advancements in brain research often result from the combination of innovative technologies and well-defined scientific questions. Recent progress in optics, electronics, and computer science now enables us to explore with unprecedented detail, how brain circuits control behavioral responses. The flexibility and portability of these systems pave the way for real-time exploration of neural activity in freely moving animals performing complex tasks.

Large national and international initiatives are constantly pushing the boundaries of these technologies by creating new neurotechnologies. Thanks to our local expertise in the field of in vitro brain-on-chip modeling, bioelectronics, and in vivo neuroimaging, our teams are developing innovative technologies for the functional exploration of both healthy and diseased brains, from the microscopic to the macroscopic scale. 

The NeuroTech Center brings together technological initiatives at Aix-Marseille Université to create a large-scale interdisciplinary network. The center works in close interaction with CoNeCT, an interdisciplinary center dedicated to computational neuroscience, to decode and model neural activity.

The NeuroTech Center is an initiative supported by the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Aix-Marseille Université (AMU), and the École des Mines de Saint-Étienne (EMSE).

Microfluidics

Bioelectronics

Neurophotonics

Brain-on-chip devices have recently emerged as a model to study brain functions. The cellular compartmentalization of neurons in culture within microfluidic chips provides a unique opportunity to recreate the physiological architecture of complex neural networks for in vitro studies. The NeuroTech Center is actively involved in development of brain-on-a-chip devices to decipher the plasticity of healthy and pathological neural networks and their response to pharmacological, chemical, electrical, or optical perturbations.

By isolating and identifying each component of the network with subcellular resolution, brain-on-chip devices enable local monitoring of intracellular dynamics over time using videomicroscopy.

Adaptability 

The NeuroTech Center develops custom devices to reconstruct complex neural networks adapted to biological questions. These devices can be adapted to integrate glial cells (INT SONIC, IES M²N).

Modelling human brain diseases

Microfluidic chips reconstructs healthy and pathological neural network models from both animal cells and human cells derived from patient samples (hiPSC). The NeuroTech Center aims to develop these new human-on-chip models to study pathological networks and their response to treatments. The development of these tools aims to facilitate preclinical phases, pharmacological screening and promotes personalized medicine (INT SONIC, INP SCeNT Platform).

Multiplexing

The NeuroTech Center is working on multiplexing microfluidic chips and automating flow control to enable parallel screening of molecules on pathological brain-on-a-chip (INT SONIC, Fluigent).

• INT (SONIC)
• IES Montpellier (M²N)
• INP (SCeNT)
• Fluigent

NeuroTech’s teams design, use, and validate in vitro and in vivo devices to measure and manipulate neural activity.

In vitro microelectrode arrays

The NeuroTech center uses MEAs (MultiChannel System) and develops custom electrode networks adapted to microfluidic chips. These devices allow for the study of complex neural networks’ responses to changes in neural activity in vitro (INT SONIC, IES M²N).

In vivo flexible electrodes

NeuroTech’s teams are developing flexible and transparent electrodes adapted to brain viscosity and compatible with in vivo imaging in awake animals. These flexible devices are based on the microfabrication of biocompatible polymers (such as Parylene C, PEDOT, etc.) and allow the study of dynamic responses of neural networks to stimulations. They are also used for therapeutic purposes, such as in the treatment of cancer through electrochemotherapy (École des Mines BEL).

Microelectronics

Neurotech teams characterize home-made electrodes and produce associated microelectronic controllers (IM2NP ACSE).

• INT (SONIC)
• IES Montpellier (M²N)
• Ecole des Mines (BEL)
• IM2NP (ACSE)

The NeuroTech Center is working on the development and improvement of imaging techniques to address the challenges of spatial, temporal, and depth resolution related to in vivo imaging. NeuroTech’s researchers aim to combine these new imaging possibilities with the use of innovative fluorescent molecular tools (INT NeuroBio Tools).

“Label-free” in vitro imaging 

NeuroTech’s teams are working on quantitative phase imaging to visualize neural cells without the need for fluorescent markers. This technique allows for the quantification of intracellular dynamics over long periods, with high spatial and temporal resolution, without affecting the neurons  (Institut Fresnel Mosaic, INT SONIC).

Ultra-fast two-photon in vivo imaging

NeuroTech’s teams are optimizing ultra-fast two-photon imaging to study subcellular neuronal activity in vivo in awake animals, in response to optical or electrical stimuli. They use genetically encoded voltage indicators (GEVIs) that allow for the measurement of both spiking activity and sub-threshold activity with subcellular resolution (INT INPHIM Platform, École des Mines BEL).

Deep photo-acoustic in vivo imaging

Optical in vivo imaging is usually limited to superficial layers. The NeuroTech center is developing photoacoustic imaging to visualize deep neural activity in vivo. The teams are working on optical detection of acoustic waves to achieve cellular resolution in deep brain layers. In parallel, they are developing fast acquisition methods to obtain high temporal resolution (Institut Fresnel Mosaic, INT Plateforme INPHIM, École des Mines BEL).

Curved optics for in vivo imaging

In vivo imaging typically focuses on either microscopic areas or on full macroscopic brain imaging. The Neurotech teams aim to bridge this gap by developing brain connectivity imaging at the mesoscopic scale, covering millimeter-sized areas, using a voltage-sensitive dye in awake non-human primates. The teams are working on the development of curved optics, originally designed for astronomical instrumentation, to adapt imaging to the curvature of the brain and improve spatial resolution. The ultimate goal is to correlate long-range brain connectivity with animal behavior (INT NEOPTO, LAM,ONERA).

• INT (SONIC, NEOPTO)
• École des Mines (BEL)
• Institut Fresnel (Mosaic)
• Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille (LAM)
• INT plateformes (INPHIM, SPRIME, NeuroBio Tools)
• Centre de primatologie de la Méditerranée (MPRC)

To structure and lead collaborative research on neurotechnologies

The NeuroTech Center brings together multiple teams and platforms from INT as well as partners from Ecole des Mines, Institut Fresnel, INP, INMED,IM2NP, Laboratory of Astrophysics in Marseille (LAM), and the French center for Aerospatiale Research(ONERA).

To train students and staff

Since 2023, the NeuroTech Center and CoNeCT have organized a teaching unit on Neurotechnologies & Neurocomputational Neuroscience as part of the bioengineering master’s program at Centrale Méditerranée, aiming to train students on research and industry applications.

To promote development, visibility and industrial transfer 

The NeuroTech Center organizes monthly seminars dedicated to technological developments for neuroscience. I

t is also associated with the Carnot Star Institute to promote the transfer of technologies to industrial applications.

• Flexible bioelectronics
• Brain-on-a-chip
• Electro-optic stimulation
• Molecular tools
• 2 photon in vivo microscopy
• Non linear microscopy
• Quantitative phase imaging
• 3D printing 

• Maxim Cazorla, Direction and Coordinator of Microfluidics
• David Moreau & Davide Reato, Co-coordinators of Bioelectronics
• Alberto Lombardini, Coordinator of Neurophotonics