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Completed TRL 7 (started at 5, targeting 7)
The Electrophysiology Recording of Neuronal Networks During Suborbital Spaceflight demonstration will assess the ability of an electrophysiological measurement system to monitor live neuronal networks in space. During a Blue Origin suborbital rocket flight, a commercial electrophysiology measurement platform will monitor a culture of neurons and collect data for post flight analysis. The objectives of the experiment are to validate the measurement platform in space and also to analyze the electrophysiology data collected in various gravity conditions.
Problem Statement Understanding the effects of spaceflight on human cells and organ systems is crucial to preserving human health through prolonged space travel. Current studies of electrically active cells are limited to an assessment of the whole organism before, during, and after flight. This technology provides the continual monitoring of electrically active human cell cultures through the variable gravity conditions of spaceflight.
Technology Maturation This electrophysiology data collection platform is expected to mature to TRL 7 after validation during suborbital flight. The demonstration will also create a preliminary dataset to assess the effects of microgravity on neuronal network function.
Summary of Flight Test
2023-12-19 Imec’s electrophysiology platform, Neuropixels, allows for high density recordings in a compact form factor. Together with our implementation partner, Space Tango, the Neuropixels hardware was combined with a controlled cell culture environment to enable electrical recordings of cells during spaceflight. Our research collaborator at the University of Texas at El Paso provided neuronal cell samples in fluidic devices to study electrically active cells in spaceflight environments.
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