Role of biomechanical cues on neuronal growth on asymmetric textured surfaces

ORAL

Abstract

Axonal growth and the formation of synaptic connections are key steps in the development of the nervous system. Here we present experimental and theoretical results on axonal growth on unidirectional nanotextured surface, and demonstrate that these surface can bias axonal growth. We also perform a systematic investigation of neuronal processes on these surfaces and quantify the role that biomechanical surface cues play in neuronal growth. We show that these surfaces provide a model growth substrates, which allow us to perform systematic studies of the interplay between mechanical, biochemical and topographical cues that contribute to neuronal growth.

*The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support from the National Institutes of Health (1R21HL112114-01), National Science Foundation (NSF-CBET 1067093), Tufts University and The Pennsylvania State University

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Authors

  • Cristian Staii

    • Department of Physics and Astronomy and Center for Nanoscopic Physics, Tufts University

  • Elise Spedden

    • Tufts University
    • Department of Physics and Astronomy and Center for Nanoscopic Physics, Tufts University

  • Timothy Atherton

    • Department of Physics and Astronomy and Center for Nanoscopic Physics, Tufts University
    • Department of physics and astronomy, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155
    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, Tufts University
    • Tufts University

  • Koray Sekeroglu

    • Materials Research Institute and Department of Engineering Science, Pennsylvania State University

  • Melik Demirel

    • Materials Research Institute and Department of Engineering Science, Pennsylvania State University