Multi-scale engineering for neuronal cell growth and differentiation

In this paper we investigate the role of micropatterning and molecular coating for cell culture and differentiation of neuronal cells (Neuro2a cell line) on a polydimethylsiloxane substrate. We investigate arrays of micrometric grooves (line and space) capable to guide neurite along their axis. We demonstrate that pattern dimensions play a major role due to the deformation of the cell occasioned by grooves narrower than typical cell dimension. A technological compromise for optimizing cell density, differentiation rate and neurite alignment has been obtained for 20 μm wide grooves which is a dimension comparable with the average cell dimension. This topographical engineered pattern combined with double-wall carbon nanotubes coating enabled us to obtain adherent cell densities in the order of 104 cells/cm2 and a differentiation rate close to 100%.