Neurite guidance and neuro-caging on steps and grooves in 2.5 dimensions.

Cornelius Fendler,Gabriele Loers,Robert Zierold,Robert H Blick,Lars Rafeldt,Jann Harberts

doi:10.1039/d0na00549e

Abstract

Directed guidance of neurites is a pre-requisite for tailor-made designs of interfaces between cells and semiconducting components. Grayscale lithography, reactive ion etching, and ultraviolet nanoimprint lithography are potent semiconductor industry-compatible techniques for a cost- and time-effective fabrication of modulated surfaces. In this work, neurite outgrowth of murine cerebellar neurons on 2.5D pathways produced with these methods is studied. Structures of micron-sized steps and grooves serve as cell culture platforms. The effects of contact guidance through topography and chemical guidance through selective poly-d-lysine coating on these platforms are analyzed. As a consequence, the herein presented fabrication approach can be utilized to cultivate and to study low-density neuronal networks in 2.5D configuration with a high degree of order.

Highlights

The ability to manipulate and direct axonal path nding is crucial for bioengineering de ned neuronal circuits
A pioneering publication in the eld of chemical guidance is the work of Kleinfeld et al from 1988.3 They showed how micropatterning of planar substrates by photolithography utilizing di- and triamines as chemical binding centers promoted local cellular adhesion and outgrowth of rodent spinal and cerebellar cells whereas monoamines, such as (3aminopropyl)triethoxysilane—which are generally used as adhesion promoter to covalently bond organic materials to oxidic surfaces—inhibited the cell adhesion
Another approach was pursued by Oliva et al which used microcontact printing to de ne arrays of a cell adhesion molecules serving as guide for the axon's outgrowth of hippocampal neuronal cells from aCenter for Hybrid Nanostructures (CHyN), Universitat Hamburg, 22761 Hamburg, Germany

Summary

Introduction

The ability to manipulate and direct axonal path nding is crucial for bioengineering de ned neuronal circuits. Axon path nding and neuronal outgrowth can be controlled by chemical or topographical cues or a combination of them.[2] A pioneering publication in the eld of chemical guidance is the work of Kleinfeld et al from 1988.3 They showed how micropatterning of planar substrates by photolithography utilizing di- and triamines as chemical binding centers promoted local cellular adhesion and outgrowth of rodent spinal and cerebellar cells whereas monoamines, such as (3aminopropyl)triethoxysilane—which are generally used as adhesion promoter to covalently bond organic materials to oxidic surfaces—inhibited the cell adhesion. Another approach was pursued by Oliva et al which used microcontact printing to de ne arrays of a cell adhesion molecules serving as guide for the axon's outgrowth of hippocampal neuronal cells from

Methods

Results

Conclusion