ABSTRACT: In this study, we report that height-controlled vertically etched silicon nano-column arrays (vSNAs) induce strong growth cone-to-substrate coupling and accelerate In vitroneurite development while preserving the essential features of initial neurite formation. Large-scale preparation of vSNAs with flat head morphology enabled the generation of well-controlled topographical stimulation without cellular impalement. A systematic analysis on topography-induced variations on cellular morphology and cytoskeletal dynamics was conducted. In addition, neurite development on the grid-patterned vSNAs exhibited preferential adhesion to the nanostructured region and outgrowth directionality. The arrangement of cytoskeletal proteins and the expression of a focal adhesion complex indicated that a strong coupling existed between the underlying nanocolumns and growth cones. Furthermore, the height-controlled nanocolumn substrates differentially modulated neurite polarization and elongation. Our findings provide an important insight into neuron-nanotopographyinteractions and their role in cell adhesion and neurite development.

KEYWORDS: vertical silicon nanostructures, metal-assisted chemical etching,  primary hippocampal neurons, neurite outgrowth, cytoskeletal dynamics

Author : Seong-Min Kim, Seyeong Lee, Dongyoon Kim, Dong-Hee Kang, Kisuk Yang, Seung-Woo Cho, Jin Seok Lee, Insung S. Choi, Kyungtae Kang, and Myung-Han Yoon

Journal : Nano Research 2017

Publication Date : 2017.11.07 

This publication is from Prof. Jin Seok Lee’s collaboration research