title: Neuronal alignment on asymmetric textured surfaces.
abstract: Axonal growth and the formation of synaptic connections are key steps in the development of the nervous system. Here, we present experimental and theoretical results on axonal growth and interconnectivity in order to elucidate some of the basic rules that neuronal cells use for functional connections with one another. We demonstrate that a unidirectional nanotextured surface can bias axonal growth. We perform a systematic investigation of neuronal processes on asymmetric surfaces and quantify the role that biomechanical surface cues play in neuronal growth. These results represent an important step towards engineering directed axonal growth for neuro-regeneration studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy and Center for Nanoscopic Physics, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA.
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beighley
authors.forename: Elise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Spedden
authors.forename: Koray
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sekeroglu
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Atherton
authors.forename: Melik C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Demirel
authors.forename: Cristian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Staii