Applications of a novel cell micropatterning process for long-term neuron and cell culture

Abstract

We show several applications for a unique method for creating user-friendly, micropatterned substrates for neuron and cell culture. With neurons, we demonstrated that our micropatterns can separate cell bodies and axons while organizing them in orderly arrays for easy experimentation. These micropatterned neuron cultures also persisted for weeks, enabling maturation and development of presynaptic structures and potentially allowing the explicit design of neuronal circuits. Beyond neurons, we also demonstrated the culture of fibroblasts on the patterned substrates and showed that these cell types likewise remained viable and highly compliant to a variety micropatterns.