AVS 49th International Symposium
    Biomaterials Thursday Sessions
       Session BI-ThA

Paper BI-ThA7
Synaptic Connectivity in Geometrically Defined Neuronal Networks

Thursday, November 7, 2002, 4:00 pm, Room C-201

Session: Cell Patterning to Engineer Function
Presenter: A. Vogt, MPI for Polymer Research, Germany
Authors: A. Vogt, MPI for Polymer Research, Germany
A. Offenhaeusser, Research Center Juelich, Germany
W. Knoll, MPI for Polymer Research, Germany
Correspondent: Click to Email
One of the major problems in the study of neuronal network behaviour lies in the enormous complexity of the vertebrate brain. A promising approach to this problem is the creation of simplified neuronal circuits in vitro as a model system. A simplified circuit can be achieved by growing neurons on micropatterned substates which impose geometrical constraints upon the forming network, such that the amount of possible cellular contacts is greatly reduced. Additional advantages of such a system are the clear definition of the connections formed as well as a high reproducability of the network shape. We grew rat embryonic cortical neurons on micropatterned substrates made by microcontact printing of ECM proteins onto a hydrophobic background. The pattern applied was a grid pattern with 6 µm wide lines and nodes that were 14 µm in diameter. The cells aligned with the geometry of the structure and formed simple circuits. Cell density was low enough to observe single cell contacts resulting in the formation of functional synapses along the lines of the pattern; this was shown by triple patch-clamp measurements. The synapses we found did not differ significantly from the synapses found on homogeneous control substrates in average synaptic failure and EPSP height. We therefore believe that our system is suitable as a model for neuronal networks and has multiple potential applications in basic biological research as well as in pharmaceutical testing, neurological implants, neuro-electronics and cell-based biosensors.