Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioelectronics (LBB), ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
Lab Chip. 2024 Nov 5;24(22):5155-5166. doi: 10.1039/d4lc00440j.
Technologies for axon guidance for disease models and bottom up investigations are increasingly being used in neuroscience research. One of the most prevalent patterning methods is using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microstructures due to compatibility with microscopy and electrophysiology which enables systematic tracking of axon development with precision and efficiency. Previous investigations of these guidance platforms have noted axons tend to follow edges and avoid sharp turns; however, the specific impact of spatial constraints remains only partially explored. We investigated the influence of microchannel width beyond a constriction point, as well as the number of available microchannels, on axon growth dynamics. Further, by manipulating the size of micron/submicron-sized PDMS tunnels we investigated the space restriction that prevents growth cone penetration showing that restrictions smaller than 350 nm were sufficient to exclude axons. This research offers insights into the interplay of spatial constraints, axon development, and neural behavior. The findings are important for designing platforms and neural interfaces for both fundamental neuroscience and translational applications in rapidly evolving neural implant technologies.
用于疾病模型和自下而上研究的轴突导向技术在神经科学研究中越来越多地被使用。最流行的模式化方法之一是使用聚二甲基硅氧烷（PDMS）微结构，因为它与显微镜和电生理学兼容，能够精确有效地系统跟踪轴突的发育。以前对这些导向平台的研究指出，轴突倾向于沿着边缘生长并避免急转弯；然而，空间限制的具体影响仅部分得到了探索。我们研究了在狭窄点之外的微通道宽度以及可用微通道数量对轴突生长动力学的影响。此外，通过操纵微米/亚微米尺寸的 PDMS 隧道的大小，我们研究了阻止生长锥穿透的空间限制，结果表明，小于 350nm 的限制足以排斥轴突。这项研究深入了解了空间限制、轴突发育和神经行为之间的相互作用。这些发现对于设计平台和神经接口具有重要意义，无论是对于基础神经科学还是在快速发展的神经植入技术中的转化应用都是如此。
