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Network Bursts in 3D Neuron Clusters Cultured on Microcontact-Printed Substrates
Qian Liang1, Zhe Chen2, Xie Chen1
1Intelligent Robotics Institute, School of Mechatronical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
Micromachines
|September 28, 2023
Summary
Microcontact printing (CP) facilitates 3D neuron cluster formation by reducing cell adhesion. Network burst generation in these 3D cultures depends on cell aggregation, not cell number, offering insights into epilepsy models.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomaterials Science
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Microcontact printing (CP) is a common technique for creating 2D neuronal networks in neuroscience research.
- Establishing 3D neuronal cultures, which better mimic native tissue, remains challenging with current CP methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how reduced cell-substrate adhesion from CP substrates can facilitate the formation of large-scale 3D neuron cluster networks.
- To analyze the impact of cell seeding density and substrate confinement on network dynamics within these 3D cultures.
Main Methods:
- Utilized microcontact printing (CP) to create substrates with reduced cell adhesion.
- Formed large-scale 3D neuron cluster networks on CP substrates.
- Quantitatively analyzed calcium activity in the 3D neuron cluster networks to assess network dynamics.
Main Results:
- Reduced cell-substrate adhesion from CP substrates effectively promoted the formation of 3D neuron cluster networks.
- Cell aggregation degree, rather than the total cell number, was identified as the primary factor driving synchronized network-wide calcium oscillations (network bursts).
Conclusions:
- Cell aggregation is key for generating network bursts in 3D neuronal cultures, offering a new perspective on neuronal network dynamics.
- This approach enables efficient and cell-sparing construction of in vitro 3D pathological models, such as for epilepsy, and aids in understanding developmental nerve system network burst phenomena.
