A feedback-driven brain organoid platform enables automated maintenance and high-resolution neural activity monitoring

The analysis of tissue cultures, particularly brain organoids, requires a sophisticated integration and coordination of multiple technologies for monitoring and measuring. We have developed an automated research platform enabling independent devices to achieve collaborative objectives for feedback-driven cell culture studies. Our approach enables continuous, communicative, non-invasive interactions within an Internet of Things (IoT) architecture among various sensing and actuation devices, achieving precisely timed control of in vitro biological experiments. The framework integrates microfluidics, electrophysiology, and imaging devices to maintain cerebral cortex organoids while measuring their neuronal activity. The organoids are cultured in custom, 3D-printed chambers affixed to commercial microelectrode arrays. Periodic feeding is achieved using programmable microfluidic pumps. We developed a computer vision fluid volume estimator used as feedback to rectify deviations in microfluidic perfusion during media feeding/aspiration cycles. We validated the system with a set of 7-day studies of mouse cerebral cortex organoids, comparing manual and automated protocols. The automated protocols were validated in maintaining robust neural activity throughout the experiment. The automated system enabled hourly electrophysiology recordings for the 7-day studies. Median neural unit firing rates increased for every sample and dynamic patterns of organoid firing rates were revealed by high-frequency recordings. Surprisingly, feeding did not affect firing rate. Furthermore, performing media exchange during a recording showed no acute effects on firing rate, enabling the use of this automated platform for reagent screening studies.