Fabrication of PLGA nanofibers on PDMS micropillars for neuron culture studies

- A novel substrate was fabricated via electrospun nanofibers on elastomeric micropillars for the formation of neural networks.
- Neurons/glial cells on the microarrays are functional and respond to pharmacological stimulations in the physiological way.
- Nanofibers provides additional mechanical and morphological features that modify the electrical activity of the network.

We fabricated a nanocomposite substrate made of nanofibers on micropillar arrays by photolithography, soft lithography and electrospinning for cell culture studies. This nanocomposite substrate combines the advantage of the extra-cellular matrix (ECM)-like surface morphology and high porosity and low stiffness of underneath supporting material. For neuronal culture studies, we used nanofibers of poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) on high aspect ratio micropillars of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Our results showed that primary hippocampal neurons on such a nanocomposite substrate have different cell morphology than on flat surfaces and they showed more electric activities. Thus, the nanofiber-micropillar composite substrates were shown to be useful for neuron culture studies.

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