title: Micropatterned substrates for the growth of functional neuronal networks of defined geometry.
abstract: The in vitro assembly of neuronal networks with control over cell position and connectivity is a fascinating approach not only for topics in basic neuroscience research but also in diverse applications such as biosensors and tissue engineering. We grew rat embryonic cortical neurons on patterned substrates created by microcontact printing. Polystyrene was used as a cell repellent background, onto which a grid pattern of physiological proteins was applied. We printed laminin and a mixture of extracellular matrix proteins and additionally both systems mixed with polylysine. Attachment of cells to the pattern with high fidelity as well as the formation of chemical synapses between neighboring cells on the pattern could be observed in all four cases, but cell attachment was strongly increased on samples containing polylysine. Neurons grown on patterned substrates had a membrane capacity smaller than that of neurons on homogeneously coated controls, which we attributed to the geometrical restrictions, but did not differ either in resting membrane potential or in the quality of synapses they formed. We therefore believe that the cells attach and differentiate normally on the pattern and form functional, mature synapses following the predefined geometry.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, D-55128 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Angela K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Vogt
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lauer
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Knoll
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Offenhäusser
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D008420:Manufactured Materials; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D011137:Polystyrenes; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011137:Polystyrenes