Anisotropically organized three-dimensional culture platform for reconstruction of a hippocampal neural network.
In native tissues, cellular and acellular components are anisotropically organized and often aligned in specific directions, providing structural and mechanical properties for actuating biological functions. Thus, engineering alignment not only allows for emulation of native tissue structures but might also enable implementation of specific functionalities. However, achieving desired alignment is challenging, especially in three-dimensional constructs. By exploiting the elastomeric property of polydimethylsiloxane and fibrillogenesis kinetics of collagen, here we introduce a simple yet effective method to assemble and align fibrous structures in a multi-modular three-dimensional conglomerate. Applying this method, we have reconstructed the CA3-CA1 hippocampal neural circuit three-dimensionally in a monolithic gel, in which CA3 neurons extend parallel axons to and synapse with CA1 neurons. Furthermore, we show that alignment of the fibrous scaffold facilitates the establishment of functional connectivity. This method can be applied for reconstructing other neural circuits or tissue units where anisotropic organization in a multi-modular structure is desired.
Center for BioMicrosystems, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Korea.
So Hyun
SH
Kim
Center for Neuroscience, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Korea.|Convergence Research Center for Diagnosis, Treatment and Care System of Dementia, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Korea.
Sun-Kyoung
SK
Im
Center for Neuroscience, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Korea.|Convergence Research Center for Diagnosis, Treatment and Care System of Dementia, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Korea.
Soo-Jin
SJ
Oh
Center for BioMicrosystems, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Korea.|Department of Biomedical Engineering, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon 34113, Korea.
Sohyeon
S
Jeong
Center for BioMicrosystems, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Korea.|Department of Biomedical Engineering, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon 34113, Korea.
Eui-Sung
ES
Yoon
Center for Neuroscience, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Korea.|Department of Neuroscience, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon 34113, Korea.|The KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea.
C Justin
CJ
Lee
Center for BioMicrosystems, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Korea.|Department of Biomedical Engineering, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon 34113, Korea.
Nakwon
0000-0003-2993-9233
N
Choi
Center for Neuroscience, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Korea.|Convergence Research Center for Diagnosis, Treatment and Care System of Dementia, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Korea.|Department of Neuroscience, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon 34113, Korea.
Eun-Mi
EM
Hur
D000818:Animals; D016880:Anisotropy; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology; D059008:Time-Lapse Imaging / Q000379:methods; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
D003094:Collagen