Generation of Human iPSC‐Derived Neurons on Nanowire Arrays Featuring Varying Lengths, Pitches, and Diameters

Abstract

In this context, vertically aligned high aspect ratio nanostructures-so-called nanowire (NW) arrays-used as cell culture substrates play an increasingly important role in establishing novel tools for interrogating and stimulating cells on molecular and cellular levels. [4][5][6][7] In recent years, studies testing the unique capabilities of NW arrays have been conducted with a variety of cell types, for instance, basic cell lines such as GPE86, HEK293, and HeLa cells, primary rodent neurons, and (mesenchymal) stem cells (MSCs), to name a few. [8,9] The impact of such studies on medical applications such as drug screenings and neurodegenerative disease studies might, however, be significantly improved by employing more sophisticated cells, namely, cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). [10] Human iPSC technologies have changed the way of preclinical research and application by enabling human (patientspecific) in vitro models without restrictions in cell availability. [11] Not only political and ethical controversies raised by using embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are avoided, but also all major cell types including blood-brain barrier models and brain organoids can be generated. [12,13] For studying neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's, neurons derived from human iPSCs are of particular interest since adequate models are otherwise scarcely available. [14] Apart from ESCs,