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Luca Berdondini
Luca Berdondini's foto

Luca Berdondini

Team Leader

Neuroscience and Brain Technologies

Address Via Morego 30
City Genova
ZIP Code 16163
Country Italy
Phone +39 010 717 81 520
Fax +39 010 720 321
IM Address luca.berdondini (Skype)

Bio

Luca Berdondini was born in 1974, in Locarno (Switzerland). He received in 1999 the M.Sc. degree in microengineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology of Lausanne (EPFL, Switzerland) with a Master Thesis at Caltech (USA) by J. Pine. After a short working experience in robotics at K-Team SA (Switzerland), he began his Ph.D. studies in the field of bio-electrochemical MEMs at the Sensors Actuators and Microsystems Laboratory (SAMLAB, Switzerland) under the coordination of M. Koudelka-Hep and N.F. De Rooij. In 2003 he received his Ph.D with a thesis entitled “Micro- and nano-fabricated interfaces for in-vitro electrophysiology”. From 2003 to 2007 he had a Post-Doc position at the same institute and managed several R&D projects on the realization of high-resolution CMOS microelectrode arrays (MEAs) and bio-electrochemical sensor arrays. Since 2007 Luca Berdondini has a Team Leader position at the Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) in the Neuroscience and Brain Technologies Department, where he is leading the NetS3 Laboratory, a multidisciplinary lab focused on neurotechnology and composed by engineers and biologists targeting the development of neuroelectronic brain interfacing technologies and systems. In particular, based on micro-/nano-technologies and microelectronic approaches, the aim of the team is to design, fabricate and functionally characterize innovative integrated electrode arrays-based system solutions for fundamental research in neuroscience and for commercial applications.

Luca Berdondini has strong competences in the development of chip integrated devices for bio-electrochemistry and neurophysiology and a well established expertise in micro-/ nano- fabrication technologies. During his carrier, he developed different integrated systems based on thin-film electrode arrays and he developed the concept of active-pixel-sensor based microelectrode arrays (APS-MEAs) for high-resolution extracellular neuroelectronic interfacing, managing with a CMOS integrated device and approaches derived from the imaging field, acquisitions from 4096 microelectrodes. This successful development was carried out within the IDEA European project (New Emerging Science and Technology, FP6) and the first commercially available high-resolution MEA platform is currently available from 3Brain (Switzerland) in collaboration with Plexon Inc. (USA). Next to his technical skills, Luca Berdondini has a proven experience in the project management and participated in several EC-funded projects.

Currently, Luca Berdondini counts several scientific publications in reffered international journals and is an active indipended reviewer for international granting agencies and scientific journals. Extramural funding of current research activity is supported EC and Italian grant agencies.

Projects

Project title - “Development of advanced neuroelectronic interfacing systems based on integrated high-resolution devices, neurocomputational components and bio-hybrid functionalization technologies”

Introduction - A crucial need for advancing brain research and for better understanding information processing in the interrelated anatomical and functional architectures of brain circuits is the extension of the technological capability of observing neuronal signalling in large neuronal assemblies. This need asks for the development of innovative neurotechnologies to effectively sense, actuate and analyze neuronal activity in a more integrative way compared to conventional electrophysiological and optical approaches. Indeed, current methods are still providing only a limited and averaged observation of neuronal signalling, fragmented to specific spatial and temporal scales. This framework represents our main neurotechnological challenge and is implemented in the team by converging a synergic neuroscientific and engineering R&D effort expected to contribute in a better understanding of the fundamental principles involved in brain information processing, in advancing research on brain diseases and in promoting the applied developments of high information content in-vitro screening methods as well as innovative enabling concepts for brain-machine interfaces. In parallel with experimental R&D carried out at multiple levels of biological complexity, our approaches are based on chip integrated devices realized by micro-/nano-technologies to design, fabricate and to functionally experimentally characterize innovative integrated electrode array-based system solutions.

Main Research Topics

  • High-resolution electrophysiological imaging systems based on CMOS-MEAs for in-vitro and in-vivo neuronal probes
  • Bio-patterning technologies and neurocomputational tools for biophysical and functional studies in neuronal circuits
  • Chip-integrated functional screening methods for in-vitro neuropharmacological assays 
  • Innovative neurointerfacing materials and bio-mimetic transducers for brain interfacing

Team Members

Project Grants

 “Neuroelectronics and nanotechnology: towards a Multidisciplinary Approach for the Science and Engineering of Neuronal Networks (NAMASEN)”; Marie Curie Initial Training Networks (ITN), FP7-PEOPLE-2010-ITN, Topic: training network in neuroelectronics and nanotecnology, 2011-2013.

“Towards new Brain‐Machine Interfaces: state‐dependent information coding (SI‐CODE)”, EU-ICT-FP7‐ICT‐2011‐C, FET‐OPEN – Challenging Current Thinking, Topic: development of state-dependent bidirectional Brain-Machine Interfaces (BMI),  2012-2015.

“Single Molecule Activation and Computing (FOCUS)”, FP7-ICT-2009 8.7 - FET Proactive 7: Molecular Scale Devices and Systems, 2011-2013.

“Novel neuroelectronic interfaces for basic research and functional screenings-converging state of the art italian dense MEAs with breackthrough israeli non-invasive intracellular microelectrodes”, Cooperazione scientifica e tecnologica Italia-Israele 2011, Italian Ministry of Science and Technology (MEA-MOST), Topic: functionalization of CMOS-MEAs and electrophysiology on cultured neuronal networks for functional screenings, 2012-2014.

“Novel analytical and datasharing tools for rich neuronal activity datasets obtained with a 4,096 electrodes array”, Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council (BBSRC, UK), Topic: experimental and computational investigation of retinal waves in the developing mice retina, 2010-2012.


Other Publications

Articles in Refereed Journals

 

L. Martiradonna, L. Quarta, L. Sileo, A. Schertel, A. Maccione, A. Simi, S. Dante, A. Scarpellini, L. Berdondini and M. De Vittorio “Beam induced deposition of 3D electrodes to improve coupling to cells”, Microelectronic Engineering, April 2012.

A. Maccione, M. Garofalo, T. Nieus, M. Tedesco, L. Berdondini and S. Martinoia, “Multiscale functional connectivity estimation on low-density neuronal cultures recorded by high density CMOS Micro Electrode Arrays”, J. Neuroscience Methods, in-press. 2012.

E. Marconi, A. Maccione, T. Nieus, P. L. Valente, M. Messa, P. Baldelli, L. Berdondini and F. Benfenati, “Investigating emergent functional properties of spontaneously active neuronal networks with controlled topology”, Plos One, 2012.  Direct Link

F. Difato, M. Dal Maschio, E. Marconi, G. Ronzitti, A. Maccione, T.  Fellin, L. Berdondini, E. Chieregatti, F. Benfenati, A. Blau. “Combined optical tweezers and laser dissector for controlled ablation of functional connections in neural networks”, J. Biomedical Optics, 2011.

M. Gandolfo, A. Maccione, M. Tedesco, S. Martinoia and L. Berdondini. “Tracking burst patterns in hippocampal cultures with high-density CMOS-MEAs”. Journal of Neural Engineering, Vol. 7, Issue 5, 2010.

A. Maccione, M- Gandolfo, M. Tedesco, T. Nieus, K. Imfeld, S. Martinoia and L. Berdondini, Experimental investigation on spontaneously active hippocampal cultures recorded by means of high-density MEAs: analysis of the spatial resolution effects, Front. Neuroeng. 3:4, 2010.

L. Berdondini, K. Imfeld, A. Maccione, M. Tedesco, S. Neukom, M. Koudelka-Hep, S. Martinoia, “Active pixel sensor array for high spatio-temporal resolution electrophysiological recordings from single cell to large scale neuronal networks”, Lab On Chip, vol 9, pp. 2644–2651, 2009.

L. Berdondini, P. Massobrio, M. Chiappalone, M. Tedesco, K. Imfeld, A. Maccione, M. Gandolfo, M. Koudelka-Hep and S. Martinoia, “Extracellular recordings from high density microelectrode arrays coupled to dissociated cortical neuronal cultures”, J. Neuroscience Methods, vol. 177, pp. 386–396, 2009.

S. Lagomarsino, G. Parrini, S. Sciortino, A. Fossati, M. Citroni, G. Ferrari, F. Gorelli, M. Santoro, G. Molesini, M. Vannoni, A. Marras, A. Scorzoni, A. Ranieri, L. Berdondini, F. Brandi, R. Carzino, A. Diaspro, M. Scotto, B. Torre, “New perspectives for the Silicon-On-Diamond material” Proceeding of Science, RD09 029, 2009.

K. Imfeld, S. Neukom, A. Maccione, Y. Bornat, S. Martinoia, P. A. Farine, M. Koudelka-Hep, L. Berdondini, "Large-Scale High-Resolution Data Acquisition System for Extracellular Recording of Electrophysiological Activity“, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering , Vol. 55, Issue 8, 2008.

K. Imfeld, A. Maccione, M. Gandolfo, S. Martinoia, P.A. Farine, M. Koudelka-Hep and L. Berdondini, “Real-time signal processing for high-density MEA systems”, Int. J. of Adaptive Control and Signal Processing, DOI 10.1002/acs, 2008.

C. Zoski, N. Yang, P. He, L. Berdondini, M. Koudelka-Hep, “Addressable nanoelectrode membrane arrays: fabrication and steady-state behavior”, Journal of Analytical Chemistry A, vol. 79, pp. 1474, 2007.

M. Chiappalone, A. Vato, L. Berdondini, M. Koudelka-Hep, and S. Martinoia, “Network Dynamics and Synchronous Activity in Cultured Cortical Neurons”, International Journal of Neural Systems, Vol 17, No 2, pp. 87-103, 2007.

L. Berdondini, S. Generelli, T. Kraus, O. Guenat, S. Koster, V. Linder, M. Koudelka-Hep, N.F. de Rooij, “Microfabricated platforms for the study of neuronal and cellular networks”, J. of Physics: conf. series, 34, 1-6, 2006.

L. Berdondini, M. Chiappalone, P.D. van der Wal, K. Imfeld, N.F. de Rooij, M. Koudelka-Hep, M. Tedesco, S. Martinoia, J. van Pelt, G. Le Masson, A. Garenne, “A microelectrode array (MEA) integrated with clustering structures for investigating in vitro neurodynamics in confined interconnected sub-populations of neurons”, Sensors and Actuators B, Vol 114 pp 530-541, 2006.

O. T. Guenat, S. Generelli, M. Dadras, L. Berdondini, N. F. de Rooij and M. Koudelka-Hep, “Generic technological platform for microfabricating silicon nitride micro and nanopipette arrays”, Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering, vol. 15, pp. 2372–2378, 2005.

S. Isik, L. Berdondini, J. Oni, A. Blöchl, M. Koudelka-Hep, W. Schuhmann, "Cell-compatible array of 3-dimensional electrodes for the detection of nitric oxide", Biosensors and Bioelectronics, vol. 20, pp. 1566–1572, 2005.

L. Berdondini, P.D. van der Wal, O. Guenat, N. F. de Rooij, M. Koudelka-Hep, P. Seitz, R. Kaufmann, P. Metzler, N. Blanc ,S. Rohr, "High-density electrode array for imaging in-vitro electrophysiological activity”, Biosensors and Bioelectronics, vol. 21, pp. 167–174, 2005.

L. Berdondini, P.D. van der Wal, N.F. de Rooij, M. Koudelka-Hep, "Development of an electroless post-processing technique for depositing gold as electrode material on CMOS devices", Sensors and Actuators B, Vol 99, 505-510, 2004.

P. Salaun, F. Bujard, L. Berdondini, M. Koudelka-Hep, J. Buffle, "Integrated microanalytical system coupling permeation liquid membrane and voltammetry for trace metal speciation. Technical description and optimization." Electroanalysis 16(10): 811-820, 2004.

S. Martinoia, V. Sanguinetti, L. Cozzi, L. Berdondini, J. van Pelt, J. Tomas, G. Le Masson, F. Davide, "Towards an embodied in vitro electrophysiology: the NeuroBIT project", Neurocomputing, 58-60, 1065-1072, 2004.

P. Salaun, O. Guenat, L. Berdondini, J. Buffle, M. Koudelka-Hep, "Voltammetric microsystem for trace elements monitoring", Analytical Letters, Vol. 39, No. 9, pp. 1835-1849, 2003.

L. Berdondini, T. Overstolz, M. Koudelka.Hep, P. Seitz, “High-density microelectrode arrangement", EP1278064, 2003-01-22.

  

 

 Recent Presentations at International Conferences and Seminars

 2011

L. Berdondini, “Integration of micro-/nano-structured scaffolds with electrode arrays”, invited talk, First Annual Conference of COST Action ECMNET - Brain Extracellular Matrix in Health and Disease, Loano, May 22-24, 2011.

E. Marconi, A. Maccione, A. Simi, A. Bosca, F. Brandi, F. Benfenati, S. Dante and L. Berdondini, “Coupling Neuronal Cultures Grown On Flexible Laser-Etched Porous Membranes With CMOS-MEAs”, 6th International Conference on Microtechnologies in Medicine and Biology IEEE-MMB 2011, Lucerne, 4-6 May 2011.

L. Berdondini, “High-Resolution Electrophysiological Imaging of Neuronal  Activity with a CMOS-MEA Platform”, invited talk, CSN School on Neurophysiology Techniques 2011 - Advanced Techniques for Neuronal Networks Investigation and Brain - Machine Interfacing, University of Padova, Italy, 14-18 March 2011.

L. Sileo, L. Martiradonna, M. Dal Maschio, V. Tasco, G. Pruzzo, L: Berdondini, A. Passaseo, M. De Vittorio, “GaAs-based High Electron Mobility Transistors as a platform for neuron signal recording”, CSN School on Neurophysiology Techniques 2011 - Advanced Techniques for Neuronal Networks Investigation and Brain - Machine Interfacing, University of Padova, Italy, 14-18 March 2011.

2010

L. Berdondini, “Microelectrode array devices for extracellular electrophysiology from single-neurons to large networks”, invited talk, University of Milano, DSBB, Milano, Italy, the 14th of December 2010.

L. Berdondini, “Advancing applied and fundamental neurophysiology with micro-/nano structured neuroelectronic devices”, invited talk, BIOTECH 2010, Milano, Italy, the 27th of October 2010.

L. Berdondini, “High-Resolution Integrated Micro Electrode Arrays (MEAs) for Imaging Neurophysiological Signalling”, invited talk, University of Trieste, Treiste, Italy, 25th of October 2010.

M. Gandolfo, K. Imfeld, M. Tedesco, A.Maccione, L. Berdondini and S.Martinoia “Active Pixel Sensor Micro Electrode Arrays (APS-MEA): analysis of the network dynamics from large scale hippocampal neuronal populations recorded at high spatio-temporal resolution” Proc. SFN San Diego, USA, 2010

A. Maccione, M. Gandolfo, K. Imfeld, M. Tedesco, S.Martinoia and L. Berdondini “Active Pixel Sensor Micro Electrode Arrays (APS-MEA): perspectives and challenges using a high resolution neuroelectronic interface for functional electrophysiological imaging of in-vitro neuronal networks and acute brain slice”, Proc. SFN San Diego, USA, 2010

L. Berdondini; E. Ferrea; A. Maccione; L. Medrihan; F. Benfenati; P. Baldelli, “Investigation of the spatial-temporal propagation pattern of epileptic events on cortico-hippocampal slices by means of high-density CMOS micro electrode arrays”, Proc. SFN San Diego, USA, 2010.

E. Sernagor; A. Maccione; M. Hennig; M. Gandolfo; S. Eglen; L. Berdondini, “Changing dynamics of spontaneous waves during retinal development: A novel panretinal perspective achieved with the Active Pixel Sensor (APS) 4,096 electrodes array”,  Proc. SFN San Diego, USA, 2010.

E. Ferrea, A. Maccione, L. Medrihan, P. Baldelli, F. Benfenati, L. Berdondini, “Investigation of the spatial-temporal propagation pattern of epileptic events on cortico-hippocampal slices by means of high-density CMOS microelectrode arrays”,  61° Congresso Nazionale SIF, Varese, Italy, September 15-17, in Acta Physiologica, Vol. 200, Supplement 681, 2010.

L. Berdondini, “Interfering with neuronal signaling at high spatial and temporal resolution with integrated micro electrode arrays”, invited talk, Frontiers in Neuroengineering Workshop, Ascona, Switzerland, September 5th - 9th, 2010.

E. Marconi, S. Dante, P. Baldelli, S. Casagrande, M. Messa, A. Maccione, F. Benfenati, L. Berdondini, “Relationship between controlled and geometrically organized neuronal assemblies and functional properties of the network, a step forward”, Frontiers in Neuroengineering Workshop, Ascona, Switzerland, September 5th - 9th, 2010.

A. Maccione, M. Gandolfo, S. Martinoia and L. Berdondini "Increased spatial-temporal analysis capabilities by high-resolution MEAs: in-vitro experimental investigations" Proc. Frontiers in Neuroengineering, Monte Verità - Ascona, Switzerland September 5th - 9th 2010

E. Sernagor, A. Maccione, M.Gandolfo, S. Eglen, M. Hennig, L. Berdondini, “Recording retinal waves with a 4,096 electrodes array: novel analytical and data sharing tools”, 3rd INCF Congress of Neuroinformatics, Kobe, Japan, August 30 - September 1, 2010.

L. Berdondini, “High spatiotemporal resolution electrophysiological imaging with integrated microelectrode arrays”, invited talk, 1st Neuroscience IIT Workshop, Genova, 14-15 of July, 2010.

E. Marconi, S. Dante, P. Baldelli, S. Casagrande, M. Messa, A. Maccione, L. Berdondini, F. Benfenati, “Functional and morphological comparison of patterned and random low density cultures of neurons grown on microelectrode arrays (MEAs)”, Proc. of 7th FENS, Amsterdam, The Nederland, July 3-7, 2010.

E. Ferrea, A. Maccione, P. Baldelli, F. Benfenati and L. Berdondini, "Investigation of the spatial-temporal propagation pattern of epileptic events on cortico-hippocampal slices by means of high-density micro electrode arrays", Proc. of 7th FENS, Amsterdam, the Nederland, July 3-7, 2010.

M. Gandolfo, A. Maccione, M. Tedesco, K. Imfeld, S. Martinoia, L. Berdondini “Investigating neuronal networks dynamics in hippocampal cultures by means of high-density CMOS-MEAs”, presented at 7th International Meeting on Substrate Integrated Micro-Electrode Arrays (MEA meeting 2010), Reutlingen, Germany, June 29-July 2, 2010.

E. Sernagor, A. Maccione, M. Hennig, M. Gandolfo, S. J. Eglen, L. Berdondini “Changing dynamics of spontaneous waves during retinal development: a novel panretinal perspective achieved with the Active Pixel Sensor (APS) 4,096 electrodes array” Proc. 7th International Meeting on Substrate Integrated Micro-Electrode Arrays (MEA meeting 2010), Reutlingen, Germany, June 29-July 2, 2010.

A. Maccione, M. Garofalo, T. Nieus, M. Tedesco, E. Commisso, S. Martinoia and L. Berdondini "Functional Connectivity Maps In Hippocampal Cultures Coupled To High Resolutions MEAs Underlie Structural Connectivity" Proc. 7th International Meeting on Substrate Integrated Micro-Electrode Arrays (MEA meeting 2010), Reutlingen, Germany, June 29-July 2, 2010.

E. Marconi, M. Messa, P. Baldelli, S. Casagrande, S. Dante, A. Maccione, L. Berdondini, F. Benfenati, “Functional and morphological comparison of patterned and random low density cultures of neurons grown on microelectrode arrays (MEAs)”, Proc. 7th International Meeting on Substrate Integrated Micro-Electrode Arrays (MEA meeting 2010), Reutlingen, Germany, June 29-July 2, 2010.

E. Ferrea, A. Maccione, P. Baldelli, F. Benfenati, L. Berdondini, “Investigation of pharmacologically-induced epileptic spatial-temporal patterns on cortico-hippocampal slices by means of high-density microelectrode Arrays”, Proc. 7th International Meeting on Substrate Integrated Micro-Electrode Arrays (MEA meeting 2010), Reutlingen, Germany, June 29-July 2, 2010.

L. Berdondini, “Interfering with neuronal signaling at high spatial and temporal resolution with integrated micro electrode arrays(MEAs): overview and perspectives”, invited talk, CBN-IIT, Lecce, 1st of February, 2010.

 

 

 

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