Nano-topography Enhances Communication in Neural Cells Networks

Abstract

Neural cells are the smallest building blocks of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Information in neural networks and cell-substrate interactions have been heretofore studied separately. Understanding whether surface nano-topography can direct nerve cells assembly into computational efficient networks may provide new tools and criteria for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. In this work, we used information theory approaches and functional multi calcium imaging (fMCI) techniques to examine how information flows in neural networks cultured on surfaces with controlled topography. We found that substrate roughness S a affects networks topology. In the low nano-meter range, S a = 0–30 nm, information increases with S a. Moreover, we found that energy density of a network of cells correlates to the topology of that network. This reinforces the view that information, energy and surface nano-topography are tightly inter-connected and should not be neglected when studying cell-cell interaction in neural tissue repair and regeneration.

Relating the small world coefficient to the entropy of 2D networks and applications in neuromorphic engineering

“…We used the methods reported in references (Onesto et al 2016, Onesto et al 2017 to evaluate the amount of information exchanged by the different grids as a function of the small-world-ness (entropy) of the grids. Information is associated to the probability of an event.…”

“…When the cumulative signal reaches a threshold that can be arbitrarily tuned, the neuron in turn generates a signal that propagates in cascade in the grid. A similar model is called a generalized leaky integrate and fire model (FitzHugh, 1955, de la Rocha andParga, 2005), a more sophisticated evolution of the model in which single computational components are arrayed in systems with a great many of elements -to form functional neuronal networks -has been recently developed by some of the authors of this paper (Onesto et al 2016, Onesto et al 2017, Onesto et al 2018. In a biological interpretation of the scheme, the signal released by the neuron is an action potential, and the sequence and time pattern of action potentials encodes the information transported in the network (Strong et al 1998, Borst andTheunissen 1999, Figure 7.…”

“…In other reported studies (Takahashi et al 2010), it has been demonstrated that the functional and anatomical connectivity among individual neurons exhibits small-world architectures. In references (Marinaro et al 2015, Onesto et al 2017, some of the authors of the present paper used surfaces with controlled nanotopography to guide the organization of neuronal cells into small world networks with enhanced information flows. Using experiments, information theory approaches and network analysis, we have demonstrated that the formation of the fundamental computation units of the nervous system (such as cortical mini-columns in the cerebral cortex) is guided by the interplay between energy minimization, information optimization and topology.…”

“…Moreover, using information theory variables and computer simulations, we found the amount of information transported in a grid as a function of s. These s SW maps can be used as a preliminary mathematical reference to determine the topological characteristic of a structure without direct knowledge of its internal connections. This study may have implications in bio computing, biosensors operations and neural cell based sensors, the diagnosis and analysis of neurodegenerative disorders, neural development (Decuzzi and Ferrari, 2010, Chiappini et al 2015, Onesto et al 2017, the analysis of cell-surface interactions and problems at the bio interface, the assembly of cells into complex structures.…”

Synergistic effects of conductivity and cell-imprinted topography of chitosan-polyaniline based scaffolds for neural differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells

“…14 Micro and nano topographical substrates can actuate the mechano-transduction pathways that regulate stem cell fate by contact guidance through the rearrangement of cytoskeleton alignment, leading to changes in nucleus shape and altering gene expression. 15 Most studies have indicated that nanopatterned surfaces activate cell surface proteins such as integrins, which are responsible for cell surface signal transduction, cluster assembly, and formation of focal adhesion complexes containing vinculin, paxillin, and focal adhesion kinase (FAK), which alter the arrangement and mechanical tension of the cytoskeleton. 16,17 Ultimately, the mechanotransduction pathway activated by mechanical tension changes the nucleus shape and the expression profile of genes involved in stem cell differentiation.…”