title: Direct microfabrication of topographical and chemical cues for the guided growth of neural cell networks on polyamidoamine hydrogels.
abstract: Cell patterning is an important tool for organizing cells in surfaces and to reproduce in a simple way the tissue hierarchy and complexity of pluri-cellular life. The control of cell growth, proliferation and differentiation on solid surfaces is consequently important for prosthetics, biosensors, cell-based arrays, stem cell therapy and cell-based drug discovery concepts. We present a new electron beam lithography method for the direct and simultaneous fabrication of sub-micron topographical and chemical patterns, on a biocompatible and biodegradable PAA hydrogel. The localized e-beam modification of a hydrogel surface makes the pattern able to adsorb proteins in contrast with the anti-fouling surface. By also exploiting the selective attachment, growth and differentiation of PC12 cells, we fabricated a neural network of single cells connected by neuritis extending along microchannels. E-beam microlithography on PAA hydrogels opens up the opportunity of producing multifunctional microdevices incorporating complex topographies, allowing precise control of the growth and organization of individual cells.
authors.affiliation: European School of Molecular Medicine - SEMM, IFOM-IEO campus, Via Adamello, 16 20139 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dos Reis
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fenili
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gianfelice
authors.forename: Gero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bongiorno
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marchesi
authors.forename: Pasquale Emanuele
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Scopelliti
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borgonovo
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Podestà
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Indrieri
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ranucci
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferruti
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lenardi
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Milani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D020100:Hydrogels; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009415:Nerve Net; D009757:Nylons; D016716:PC12 Cells; D011485:Protein Binding; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D020100:Hydrogels; D009757:Nylons