Spatially controlled co-culture of neurons and glial cells

✍ Scribed by In Hong Yang; Carlos C. Co; Chia-Chi Ho

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2005
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 662 KB
• Volume: 75A
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1549-3296
• DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.30509

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

The ability to create and maintain neuron and glial cell co‐cultures is important for neuronal regeneration as well as for fundamental studies on neuron and glial cell interactions. We demonstrate here a method for spatially controlling the arrangement of neurons and glial cells. Line patterns of cell resistant, poly(oligoethyleneglycol methacrylate‐co‐methacrylic acid), was microcontact printed on various substrates to spatially control the attachment of neurons. Neuron‐like cells, PC12 and SH‐SY5Y cells, were confined within the unprinted line patterns and extended neurites along the line patterns. Subsequent attachment of glial cells was accomplished by converting the originally cell‐resistant line patterns of poly(oligoethyleneglycol methacrylate‐co‐methacrylic acid) to cell adhesive by electrostatic adsorption of cationic poly‐lysine, chitosan, or poly(ethyleneimine). This method for creating patterned co‐cultures of neuron and glial cells provides a useful tool for investigating neuron–glial cell interactions and has potential applications in the repair or regeneration of nervous systems. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2005