Silicone rubber as a novel insulating material for manufacturing cylindrical glass carbon fiber electrodes

Good insulation at the glass/fiber interfaces is the most critical factor for successfully manufacturing high-quality cylindrical glass carbon fiber electrodes (CgCFEs). In the conventional process of fabricating CgCFEs, poor insulation is unavoidable when using epoxy as the insulator. In this study, we were the first to use silicone rubber as a new type of insulating material to make silicone rubber-insulated CgCFEs (SCgCFEs) which detected dopamine release in the striatum in vivo after medial forebrain bundle stimulation and recorded quantal catecholamine release from rat adrenal chromaffin cells. Our results indicate that silicone rubber can form perfect insulation in SCgCFEs which are stable, easily manufactured, and can be used in the measurement of easily oxidized monoamine neurotransmitters.

► Silicone rubber can form perfect insulation. ► Silicone rubber is nontoxic. ► The carbon fiber electrode made by silicone rubber belongs to green environmental type.