Primary cortical neurons on PMCS TiO2 films towards bio-hybrid memristive device: A morpho-functional study

- Stoichiometric or oxygen overstoichiometric films were produced.
- Murine cortical neurons were successfully grown on TiO2 films.
- The bioelectrical activity of adhesive neurons was enhanced by TiO2 films.

We report a comprehensive study of the biocompatibility and neurocompatibility of titanium dioxide films (TiO2) prepared by Pulsed Microplasma Cluster Source (PMCS). This technique uses supersonic pulsed beams seeded by clusters of the metal oxide synthesized in a plasma discharge. The final stoichiometry of the TiO2 thin films is tuned changing the gas mixture, achieving stoichiometric or oxygen overstoichiometric films. All the films showed consistent biocompatibility and a spontaneous absorption of poly-d-lysine (PDL) that favors the adhesion and growth of murine cortical neurons. Moreover, the bioelectrical activity of the neuronal culture grown on the TiO2 film can be modulated by changing the chemistry of the surface. This work paves the way to develop a bio-hybrid neuromorphic device, where viable nerve cells are grown directly over a titanium dioxide film showing a network of memristors.

Murine cortical neurons were grown on TiO2 film prepared by PMCS technique and a detailed morpho-functional analysis was performed239