title: Tension-induced neurite growth in microfluidic channels.
abstract: The generation of an effective method for stimulating neuronal growth in specific directions, along well-defined geometries, and in numerous cells could impact areas ranging from fundamental studies of neuronal evolution and morphogenesis, to applications in biomedical diagnostics and nerve regeneration. Applied mechanical stress can regulate neurite growth. Indeed, previous studies have shown that neuronal cells can develop and extend neurites with rapid growth rates under applied "towing" tensions imparted by micropipettes. Yet, such methods are complex and exhibit low throughputs, as the tension is applied serially to individual cells. Here we present a novel approach to inducing neurite growth in multiple cells in parallel, by using a miniaturized platform with numerous microchannels. Upon connection of a vacuum to these microchannels, tension can be applied on multiple cells simultaneously to induce the growth of neurites. A theoretical model was also developed to understand the effect of tension on the dynamics of neurite development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
authors.forename: Thanh D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Ian B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Hogue
authors.forename: Kellye
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cung
authors.forename: Prashant K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Purohit
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: McAlpine
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes / Q000737:chemistry; D005898:Glass / Q000737:chemistry; D007118:Immunoassay; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008904:Miniaturization; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D016501:Neurites / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D016716:PC12 Cells; D051381:Rats; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D016875:tau Proteins; C013830:baysilon