Stretchable Microelectrode Arrays with Microneedles for Reliable Electrophysiological Recording of Human Heart and Brain Organoids

Real-time, non-destructive monitoring of electrophysiological dynamics of 3D organoids is imperative for advancing disease modeling and high-throughput drug screening. However, obtaining continuous, reliable signals remains difficult due to the destructive nature of penetrating probes and the unreliable contact issue prone to surface recordings. Here, we present a stretchable 3D microelectrode array with microneedles (3D MN-sMEA) fabricated via a scalable wafer-level stud-bump bonding process for minimally destructive and stable monitoring. We achieve high-fidelity, reliable electrophysiological recordings of both human iPSC-derived heart and cerebral models. Compared with 2D and 3D planar microelectrodes, 3D microelectrodes with microneedles achieve a higher signal-to-noise ratio and greater long-term recording stability. Furthermore, quantitative pharmacological profiling validates its ability to enable precise drug screening. By combining scalable manufacturing with flexible, tissue-compliant interfaces, our approach enables stable, minimally invasive, and long-term electrophysiological monitoring of 3D organoids for scalable disease modeling and drug discovery.