Neurite outgrowths of neurons on patterned self-assembled monolayers

The effects of specific chemical functionalities on the neurite outgrowths of embryonic chick dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons and PC12h cells were investigated using a set of chemically functionalized surfaces prepared by self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of alkanethiolates with R = NH2, COOH, and CH3 on patterned gold surfaces. The numbers of neurons with neurite outgrowths were compared in the course of a two-week cultivation period. Neurons with neurite outgrowths were observed predominantly on a patterned SAM of long-chain alkanethiolates with amino groups. After about two weeks, the neurons detached from the patterned SAM. However, the activity of beta-galactosidase immobilized via a patterned SAM did not decrease over a 13-d period, reflecting the long-term stability of the SAM. Therefore, the neurons became detached upon cell death. These results demonstrate that the patterned SAM of 11-amino-1-undecanethiolate is a scaffold suitable for making cell chips.