1. Aligning Synthetic Hippocampal Neural Circuits via Self-Rolled-Up Silicon Nitride Microtube Arrays
- Author
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Paul Froeter, Xiuling Li, Elise A. Corbin, Julian A. Michaels, Olivia V. Cangellaris, and Martha U. Gillette
- Subjects
0301 basic medicine ,Materials science ,Neurite ,02 engineering and technology ,Substrate (electronics) ,Hippocampal formation ,Hippocampus ,03 medical and health sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Neurites ,Biological neural network ,Animals ,General Materials Science ,Confluency ,Silicon Compounds ,Neural engineering ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Rats ,030104 developmental biology ,Neurite growth ,Silicon nitride ,chemistry ,Biophysics ,Microtechnology ,Nerve Net ,0210 nano-technology - Abstract
Directing neurons to form predetermined circuits with the intention of treating neurological disorders and neurodegenerative diseases is a fundamental goal and current challenge in neuroengineering. Until recently, only neuronal aggregates were studied and characterized in culture, which can limit information gathered to populations of cells. In this study, we use a substrate constructed of arrays of strain-induced self-rolled-up membrane 3D architectures. This results in changes in the neuronal architecture and altered growth dynamics of neurites. Hippocampal neurons from postnatal rats were cultured at low confluency (∼250 cells mm–2) on an array of transparent rolled-up microtubes (μ-tubes; 4–5 μm diameter) of varying topographical arrangements. Neurite growth on the μ-tubes was characterized and compared to controls in order to establish a baseline for alignment imposed by the topography. Compared to control substrates, neurites are significantly more aligned toward the 0° reference on the μ-tube arra...
- Published
- 2018