MICROPATTERNING OF NEURONS USING ORGANIC SUBSTRATES IN CULTURE

In this study, we have used spatially defined surfaces of organic thin films to micropattern the outgrowth of central nervous system neurons in culture. Glass substrates were first chemically modified with synt hetic peptides derived from an extra-cellular matrix protein laminin t o couple a functionality that promotes a neuron-substrate interaction. The modification procedure was verified using X-ray photoelectron spe ctroscopy, The functionality of the modified glass surfaces was examin ed by growing neurons dissociated from mammalian central nervous tissu es in culture, Spatially defined surfaces of the peptide were then fab ricated by selectively attaching the peptide to coplanar surfaces that were produced via deep UV laser lithography of self-assembled monolay er films. The interaction of the neurons and substrates confined the a ttachment of cell bodies on the defined surfaces and allowed the exten sion of neuritic processes along the defined pathways, Atomic force mi croscopy revealed fine structures of the patterned neurons and enabled us to directly observe the substratum-guided neuronal outgrowth. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.