# A thermally actuated 3D foldable bioelectronic interface for multimodal electrophysiological and cytokine profiling of human spinal cord organoids

Article · Lee S, Han S, Shin H, Lee JH, Chou N

- Archive id: doi:10.1016/j.bios.2026.118950
- Published: 2026-06-23
- Venue: Biosensors & bioelectronics
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bios.2026.118950
- PMID: 42361605
- Citations: 0
- Source URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bios.2026.118950
- Provenance: europepmc

## Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) organoids provide physiologically relevant models for studying human neural development and disease; however, stable bioelectronic interfacing with curved and dynamic organoid surfaces remains challenging. Here, we present a thermally actuated, shape-memory polymer (SMP)-based foldable bioelectronic interface for simultaneous electrophysiological recording and electrochemical cytokine sensing in human spinal cord organoids (hSCOs). Near physiological temperature (36-37 °C), the SMP substrate undergoes pronounced mechanical softening, enabling conformal 3D wrapping around organoids without external mechanical compression. The platform integrates gold microelectrodes for extracellular neural recording and antibody-functionalized sensing electrodes for label-free cytokine detection. Finite element simulations and experimental mechanical analyses confirmed temperature-dependent bending, enhanced conformal contact, low interfacial stress, and mechanically stable biointerfacing. Electrochemical characterization demonstrated linear cytokine sensing responses over 1-100 ng/ml, with calculated limits of detection (LOD) of 0.44 ng/ml for TNF-α and 0.41 ng/ml for IL-8. Using this multimodal platform, stable electrophysiological recordings and cytokine monitoring were simultaneously obtained from hSCOs under inflammatory stimulation. TNF-α treatment induced dose-dependent increases in neural firing activity together with corresponding electrochemical cytokine responses. Collectively, this thermally adaptive bioelectronic interface provides a minimally invasive platform for integrated electrical and biochemical profiling of intact organoids and offers a promising tool for neuroinflammatory organoid studies.

_Abstract reproduced under CC-BY (article license as recorded by Europe PMC; abstract reproduced unmodified apart from markup removal)._

Topics: [Organoids & Organ-on-Chip](https://space-kitty.com/topics/organoids)

Cited in dossiers:
- [Organoids & Organ-on-Chip: State of the Field (October 2026)](https://space-kitty.com/dossiers/organoids)

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