A polymeric, PDMS-based large-scale skull replacement suitable for optical and mechanical access for long-term neuronal imaging, electrophysiology, and optogenetics

Kengo Takahashi; Gerjan Huis in ’t Veld; Davide Benedetti; Jun-Ying Wang; Samuel Pontes Quero; Rafael Yuste; Cyriel M. A. Pennartz; Umberto Olcese

doi:10.1101/2025.04.15.648966

NeurosciencebioRxivApr 15, 2025

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A polymeric, PDMS-based large-scale skull replacement suitable for optical and mechanical access for long-term neuronal imaging, electrophysiology, and optogenetics

Kengo Takahashi iD, Gerjan Huis in ’t Veld iD, Davide Benedetti iD, Jun-Ying Wang iD, Samuel Pontes Quero, Rafael Yuste iD, Cyriel M. A. Pennartz iD, Umberto Olcese iD

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Abstract

Many techniques to record and manipulate neuronal activity across large portions of the vertebrate brain, such as widefield and two-photon calcium imaging, electrophysiology, and optogenetics, are now available. However, few effective approaches enable both optical and mechanical access to the brain. In this work, we offer an in-depth guide for synthesizing, implanting, and using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) windows as skull replacements for chronic optical neuronal imaging. Furthermore, we provide instructions to perform viral injections and multi-site silicon probe implantation. O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=200 SRC="FIGDIR/small/648966v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (71K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1900a2dorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@18c436corg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@19e6a4corg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@154c228_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG O_FLOATNOGraphical abstractC_FLOATNO C_FIG