Neuroscience goes on a chip

Advances in microelectronics, microfluidics, polymers and microfabrication have enabled the creation of disposable lab-on-a-chips (LOCs) as the new tools for neuroscience research. The LOCs have been applied for a wide range of neurobiology studies, including cellular and molecular biochemical experimentations, morphological observations and electrophysiological investigations. The integration of miniaturised components leads to analytical instrumentations with unprecedented automation, speed of analysis, and flexibility. These features make LOCs capable enough to replace their bulky and expensive bench-top counterparts. LOCs can be useful for genomic, proteomic, epigenomic, peptidomic, connectomic and electrophysiological studies and also as effective tools for reductionist neuroscientists. Moreover, they can be applied at higher level studies such as developmental neurobiology and behavioural investigations. This work provides an in-depth review of LOC platforms for neuroscience research. First, we review the essential bench-top neuroscience instrumentation as per their functions and features. Next, we present LOC counterparts for those bench-top instrumentations. Finally, we offer perspectives on persistent challenges and our perception of opportunities based on LOC instrumentations in neuroscience research.

► A novel and exciting vision for future lab-on-a-chip platforms for neuroscience. ► Discuss limitations of current bench-top instrumentations for neuroscience research. ► State recent progress in microfabrication technologies for neurobiology and electrophysiology. ► Covers LOCs which will be of interest for cellular and molecular neuroscience researchers.