Survival of Adhering Cortical Neurons on Polyethylenimine Micropatterns
Abstract
In the neuroscience community there has been a growing interest in the development of neuroelectronic devices that can survive in a physiological surrounding over long periods of time. The development of a cultured neuron probe would be an important step towards improved integration of neural tissue with electronic devices. An essential part of a cultured probe is an efficient contact between electrode and neural tissue for sufficient electrical signal transfer. Therefore, there is a need to improve the neuron-adhesive character of electrodes and avoid neural adhesion around them over longer periods of time. Photolithography facilitates the preparation of chemical patterns of neuron-adhesive substances on microelectrode devices and is a promising tool towards accurate positioning of neurons on top of microelectrodes. The authors are interested in the application of microelectrode arrays (MEAs) for selective stimulation of sprouting axons developed by motor nerves. The final goal is an improved fine control of muscles. In vitro cultured islands of neurons on top of the MEAs are part of a strategy to attract axonal sprouts from nerves onto microelectrodes. The miniaturization of MEAs into cultured probes with acceptable sizes raises questions about the optimal dimensions of the in vitro cultured islands of neurons suitable for long-term adhesion and survival. In this study, the influence of neuron-adhesive pattern geometry on the long-term survival of cortical neural tissue from rat brains was studied over a time period of 15 days. Microwells (depth 0.5 microns) with diameters of 25, 50, 100, and 150 microns and inter-microwell distances of 15, 30, 60, and 90 microns were etched in a neuron-repellent fluorocarbon (FC)-layer and coated with neuron-adhesive polyethylenimine (PEI). Results showed that the survival of neural tissue was geometry-independent after 1, 4, and 8 days but was favored on 150-micron wells after 15 days.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 25, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA410878
Entities
People
- M. H. Goedbloed
- T. G. Ruardij
- W. L. C. Rutten
Organizations
- University of Twente