Fabrication of precisely aligned microwire and microchannel structures: Toward heat stimulation of guided neurites in neuronal cultures

Abstract

Microwire arrays are a powerful tool for the exertion of localized thermal stress on cellular networks. Combining microwire arrays with a set of orthogonal axon-guiding microchannels on-chip allows for the positioning of neurites, as well as control over their polarity. In this paper, we present a new fabrication approach, based on standard clean room fabrication and sacrificial layer etching, for the integration of microwire arrays into neurite guiding structures. The system permits the application of strong temperature gradients, enabling localized thermal stimulation inside microchannels.

Guiding neural extensions of PC12 cells on carbon nanotube tracks dielectrophoretically formed in poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate

“…3,4 Tissue engineering offers promising approaches for designing scaffolds with proper cues and properties for the development of neuronal circuits and induction of neuronal regeneration aer injury. 5,6 Developing in vitro models using tissue engineering techniques can be useful in a variety of ways, from understanding the regulatory mechanisms of neurite outgrowth to identifying possible drugs that could mitigate barriers to nervous system regeneration. 7 Understanding the regulatory mechanism of neurite outgrowth is crucial not only in understanding brain development but also in nding new ways to induce neurite re-outgrowth in patients with neurodegenerative diseases.…”

Chip‐Based Heat Stimulation for Modulating Signal Propagation in HL‐1 Cell Networks

“…We believe that heat stimulation in structured networks or tissues will allow more specific studies on pacemaker selection and local Ca 2+ effects. This can be achieved by employing nanofabrication technologies to modify the geometry of the structured heating zones and confining cell growth to specific regions, for example, within a microfluidic compartment …”