Spot compliant neuronal networks by structure optimized micro-contact printing

Neuronal cell growth in vitro can be controlled with micropatterned structures of extracellular matrix proteins such as laminin. This technique is a powerful tool for studying neuronal cell function in order to increase experimental reproducibility and to specifically design innovative experimental setups. In this paper the correlation between the structural dimensions of the ECM pattern and the shape of the resulting cellular network is analyzed. The aim of the present study was to position neuronal cell bodies as precisely as possible and to induce directed cell differentiation. PCC7-MzN cells were cultured on laminin patterns. The line width, node size and gap size in-between cell adhesion sites was varied systematically. Micrographs of the samples were taken and statistically analyzed using Studentʹs t-test and linear correlation methods. Precise cell positioning has successfully been performed and evidence for controlled neuronal polarization has been found. With a structure geometry of 4 μm line width, 20 μm node size and 10 μm gap size a nodal compliance of 86% (±10%) has been achieved.