Displacement Talbot lithography nanopatterned microsieve array for directional neuronal network formation in brain-on-chip

Abstract

Commercial microelectrode arrays (MEAs) for in vitro neuroelectrophysiology studies rely on conventional two dimensional (2D) neuronal cultures that are seeded on the planar surface of such MEAs and thus form a random neuronal network. The cells attaching on these types of surfaces grow in 2D and lose their native morphology, which may also influence their neuroelectrical behavior. Besides, a random neuronal network formed on this planar surface in vitro also lacks comparison to the in vivo state of brain tissue. In order to improve the present MEA platform with the above mentioned concerns, in this paper, the authors introduce a three dimensional platform for neuronal cell culturing, where a linear nanoscaffold is patterned on a microsieve array by displacement Talbot lithography (DTL) and reactive ion etching. Good pattern uniformity is achieved by the DTL method on the topographically prepatterned nonflat surface of the microsieve array. Primary cortical cells cultured on the nanopatterned microsieve array show an organized network due to the contact guidance provided by the nanoscaffold, presenting 47% of the total outgrowths aligning with the nanogrooves in the observed view of field. Hence, the authors state that this nanopatterned microsieve array can be further integrated into microsieve-based microelectrode arrays to realize an advanced Brain-on-Chip model that allows us to investigate the neurophysiology of cultured neuronal networks with specifically organized architectures.

Nano-Architectural Approaches for Improved Intracortical Interface Technologies

“…They found neurite extensions aligning to the patterns, as well as alignment of the soma of neurons ( Frimat et al, 2015 ). Additionally, Xie et al (2016) found that 47% of neurons seeded on a nano-patterned microseive array with nano-grooves 230 nm wide with a period of 600 nm showed alignment along the direction of the grooves. Recently, Woeppel et al (2018) found that roughening the silicon substrate surface with silica nanoparticles 60 nm in diameter on average, followed by L1 protein adhesion lead to increase neuron outgrowth.…”

Engineering Light at the Nanoscale: Structural Color Filters and Broadband Perfect Absorbers

“…Instead of the multilayer thin‐film structures, different patterns with 2D and 3D geometric configurations can also be incorporated in a single unit, which can provide the possibility of realizing the broadband absorption characteristics for mass production. Benefiting from different advanced micro‐ and nano‐fabrication technologies increasingly emerged, numerous novel concepts with attractive features have been proposed and subsequently realized, opening up more opportunities for further advancement. We foresee a promising future for the artificial colors and broadband absorbers whose optical properties are determined by the structures, and many emerging applications.…”

Bioreactor Synergy with 3D Scaffolds: New Era for Stem Cells Culture

“…Neuronal can be induced by the nano grooves surface morphology of scaffolds. Even discarding discs can induce synaptic growth due to the nanogroove structure on the surface of the polycarbonate layer, as Figure shows. , …”

“…Even discarding discs can induce synaptic growth due to the nanogroove structure on the surface of the polycarbonate layer, as Figure 9 shows. 130,131 During the process of nerve tissue regeneration, directed neural stem cell growth and migration is of significant. Existing studies have shown that the topological structure and morphology of scaffold surface play an important role in cell adhesion, differentiation, and proliferation.…”