Neuronal Growth on a-Si and Au Nanopillars

Abstract

Neuronal patterning is useful for understanding signal propagation between neurons as well as for biosensors and cell-based assays. The patterning of living cells has been made possible by employing surface physicochemical and topographic features. This study investigated neuronal growth on patterned nanopillars. Rat cortical neurons were cultivated on quartz substrates with amorphous silicon (a-Si) and Au pillars 100 and 500 nm in diameter. The neurites grew better with the larger diameter pillars, and the partly-selective neurite growth was observed for a-Si pillars but not for Au pillars. These results reveal the possibility of controlling neuronal growth by using a-Si nanopillars.