title: Low density cell culture of locust neurons in closed-channel microfluidic devices.
abstract: Microfluidic channel systems were fabricated out of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and used as culture vessels for primary culture of neurons from locust thoracic ganglia. In a biocompatibility study it was shown that cell adhesion and neuronal cell growth of locust neurons on uncoated PDMS was restricted. Coating with concanavalin A improved cell adhesion. In closed-channel microfluidic devices neurons were grown in static-bath culture conditions for more than 15 days. Cell densities of up to 20 cells/channel were not exceeded in low-density cultures but we also found optimal cell growth of single neurons inside individual channels. The first successful cultivation of insect neurons in closed-channel microfluidic devices provides a prerequisite for the development of low density neuronal networks on multi electrode arrays combined with microfluidic devices.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biology II, Unit of Developmental Biology and Morphology of Animals, RWTH Aachen University, Mies-van-der-Rohe-Str 15, D-52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Göbbels
authors.forename: Anja Lena
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Thiebes
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van Ooyen
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schnakenberg
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bräunig
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D049108:Cell Enlargement; D003208:Concanavalin A; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D005260:Female; D006110:Grasshoppers / Q000502:physiology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D003208:Concanavalin A; C013830:baysilon