title: Label-free characterization of emerging human neuronal networks.
abstract: The emergent self-organization of a neuronal network in a developing nervous system is the result of a remarkably orchestrated process involving a multitude of chemical, mechanical and electrical signals. Little is known about the dynamic behavior of a developing network (especially in a human model) primarily due to a lack of practical and non-invasive methods to measure and quantify the process. Here we demonstrate that by using a novel optical interferometric technique, we can non-invasively measure several fundamental properties of neural networks from the sub-cellular to the cell population level. We applied this method to quantify network formation in human stem cell derived neurons and show for the first time, correlations between trends in the growth, transport, and spatial organization of such a system. Quantifying the fundamental behavior of such cell lines without compromising their viability may provide an important new tool in future longitudinal studies.
authors.affiliation: 1] Quantitative Light Imaging Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA [2] [3].
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mir
authors.affiliation: 1] Quantitative Light Imaging Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA [2].
authors.forename: Taewoo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Regenerative Bioscience, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
authors.forename: Anirban
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Majumder
authors.affiliation: Quantitative Light Imaging Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.affiliation: Quantitative Light Imaging Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Ru
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Program and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: S Chris
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Program and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Martha U
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Gillette
authors.affiliation: Regenerative Bioscience, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stice
authors.affiliation: Quantitative Light Imaging Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Popescu
mesh_terms: D001692:Biological Transport; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D007368:Interferometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D018021:Lithium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018021:Lithium Chloride