Analytical Sciences

A Simplified Micropatterning Method for Straight-line Neurite Extension of Cultured Hippocampal Neurons

Ikuro SUZUKI,* Kosuke NAKAMURA,** Aoi ODAWARA,* Amani ALHEBSHI,* and Masao GOTOH*

*Graduate School of Bionics, Tokyo University of Technology, 1404-1 Katakura, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0982, Japan
**School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo University of Technology, 1404-1 Katakura, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0982, Japan

We report a simplified micropatterning method for the straight-line extension of the neurites of cultured neurons. We prepared a poly-D-lysine (PDL)-patterned surface using a polydimethylsiloxane microfluidic stamp. Hippocampal neurons were cultured on the PDL-bound substrate with the stamp removed, allowing for conventional cell seeding and detailed optical observation without fluorescent label. Cultured neurons elongated neurites along straight lines at the single-cell level and displayed spontaneous firing as detected by time-lapse imaging and Ca²⁺ imaging.

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