Support
of Neuronal Growth Over Glial Growth and Guidance of Optic Nerve Axons
by Vertical Nanowire Arrays
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Abstract
Neural cultures are very useful in
neuroscience, providing simpler and better controlled systems than
the <i>in vivo</i> situation. Neural tissue contains two
main cell types, neurons and glia, and interactions between these
are essential for appropriate neuronal development. In neural cultures,
glial cells tend to overgrow neurons, limiting the access to neuronal
interrogation. There is therefore a pressing need for improved systems
that enable a good separation when coculturing neurons and glial cells
simultaneously, allowing one to address the neurons unequivocally.
Here, we used substrates consisting of dense arrays of vertical nanowires
intercalated by flat regions to separate retinal neurons and glial
cells in distinct, but neighboring, compartments. We also generated
a nanowire patterning capable of guiding optic nerve axons. The results
will facilitate the design of surfaces aimed at studying and controlling
neuronal networks