Oligonucleotide-Based Amphiphilic Block Copolymers Interacting with Cell Membrane Models at the Air-Water Interface

Abstract

Regeneration of damaged neurons has been one of the main challenges in the attempt to cure brain damages occur from neurodegenerative diseases and head injuries. Successful formation of functional synapses on artificial substrates is a very important step in the development of engineered in vitro neural networks. We have recently shown that spherical supported bilayer lipid membranes (SS-BLMs) can be used as a novel substrate to achieve presynaptic accumulation at an in vitro synaptic junction. 1 The results indicate that lipid membrane domains may play a role in the observed phenomenon, in addition to the chemical and electrostatic interactions between the neurons and SS-BLMs. 2 With the help of domain specific fluorescent dyes, micron-sized lipid phase domains were specifically labeled on Giant Unilamellar Vesicles (GUVs) and on silica beads. Experiments, in vitro, clearly show that specific membrane domains play a role in the synapse formation. These results as well as Cryo-TEM based molecular level confirmation of presynapse formation on artificial substrates will be presented.The aspect of lipid membrane domains in synapse formation is key in developing many neuroengineering approaches to design functional artificial synapse formation as well as for synaptogenesis studies in vivo.