Abstract
Controlled assembly of retinal cells on artificial surfaces is important for fundamental cell research and medical applications. We investigate fractal electrodes with branches of vertically-aligned carbon nanotubes and silicon dioxide gaps between the branches that form repeating patterns spanning from micro- to milli-meters, along with single-scaled Euclidean electrodes. Fluorescence and electron microscopy show neurons adhere in large numbers to branches while glial cells cover the gaps. This ensures neurons will be close to the electrodes’ stimulating electric fields in applications. Furthermore, glia won’t hinder neuron-branch interactions but will be sufficiently close for neurons to benefit from the glia’s life-supporting functions. This cell ‘herding’ is adjusted using the fractal electrode’s dimension and number of repeating levels. We explain how this tuning facilitates substantial glial coverage in the gaps which fuels neural networks with small-world structural characteristics. The large branch-gap interface then allows these networks to connect to the neuron-rich branches.
Funder
W. M. Keck Foundation
The Living Legacy Foundation
The Ciminelli Foundation
University of Oregon
Vetenskapsrådet
NanoLund at Lund University
Stiftelsen för Synskadade i f.d. Malmöhus län
Crown Princess Margareta’s Committee for the Blind
The Pufendorf Institute for advanced studies
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Cited by
2 articles.
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