title: Direct synthesis of quaternized polymer brushes and their application for guiding neuronal growth.
abstract: We show that the poly([2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium chloride) (PMETA) brush modified surfaces are excellent substrates for the directed growth of rat hippocampal neurons, which could prove useful for the coating of neural devices. Direct synthesis of quaternized poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) brushes was achieved by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) of META in protic media at room temperature. PMETA brushes were photolithographically patterned on silicon substrates in combination with patterned regions backfilled with short polyethylene glycol (PEG) SAMs. The resulting hybrid patterned surfaces consisting of both "cytophilic" and "cytophobic" materials were successfully employed to guide a neuronal outgrowth. These surfaces should thus provide an excellent platform for studies of neuronal function, use in neuronal implants, cell-based biosensors, and other applications.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Materials Science and Engineering and Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Raymond P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Molloy
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lindau
authors.forename: Christopher K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Ober
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D051381:Rats; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
chemical_list: D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; C543347:poly(2-(methacryoyloxy)ethyl)trimethylammonium chloride