Beam induced deposition of 3D electrodes to improve coupling to cells

The fabrication of three-dimensional platinum nanoprotrusions by ion beam induced deposition (IBID) is here proposed to study their interaction with cultured rat primary neurons. The broad versatility of IBID allows to test the effects on cells network morphology of different protrusions shapes, from straight pillars to nail-headed or sphere-headed vertical structures. A preferential adhesion of cells on fabricated Pt nanostructures is clearly shown by fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy, with dense and suspended neuritic networks observed on arrays of large-headed pillars. This technique could be exploited to improve cells/electrodes adhesion and to increase the detected extracellular electric signal.

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► We fabricate three-dimensional Pt nanostructures (NSs) for cells coupling.
► Ion beam induced deposition is used to give broad freedom in NSs shaping.
► Sub-μm sized straight pillars, nail-headed and sphere-headed NSs are tested.
► Cells neurites tend to grow toward Pt NSs rather than toward unpatterned areas.
► Dense, suspended neuritic branches are preferentially formed on large-headed NSs.