AVS 53rd International Symposium
    Biomaterial Interfaces Tuesday Sessions
       Session BI-TuA

Paper BI-TuA6
Electronically Controlled Biointerface for Neuron Growth

Tuesday, November 14, 2006, 3:40 pm, Room 2001

Session: Cells at Surfaces
Presenter: M. Gabi, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
Authors: M. Gabi, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
P. Schulte, Research Centre Jülich, Germany
A. Offenhäusser, Research Centre Jülich, Germany
J. Vörös, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
Correspondent: Click to Email
Experimental investigation of the neuronal network information processing is important for understanding how the brain performs functions such as memory and learning. The first research step is to develop novel ways for the assembly of neural networks with controlled topology. The guided growth of neurons is one basic requirement to build such defined neural networks. A variety of different surface patterning techniques have been used to achieve controlled growth, including microcontact printing, photolithograpy, ink-jet printing and topographical control, but none of these methods has been capable of controlling the "wiring" of the neurons so far. We have developed electrically responsive "smart" surfaces for controlling the growth of neurons and neurites on custom made indium-tin-oxide (ITO) microelectrodes. The substrate has a suitable microstructure to mechanically guide the out-growth of neurites from the landing spots where the soma of the neuron is located. At the same time poly(ethylene glycol) grafted polyelectrolytes are used to provide an appropriate biointerface on the connecting ITO wires between the cells. The key feature of this chemistry is that initially it inhibits the cell-attachment and neurite outgrowth but it can be switched electrically to a cell-adhesive, IKVAV peptide presenting biointerface that promotes the outgrowth of the neurites. The possibility of guiding neuron growth with the help of electronically controlled biointerfaces is an important step towards building neural networks with controlled topology. The performance of such basic networks and network elements will be characterized using a double patch-clamp setup.