First human hNT astrocytes patterned to single cell resolution on parylene-C/silicon dioxide substrates.

Abstract

In our previous work we developed a successful protocol to pattern the human hNT neuron (derived from the human teratocarcinoma cell line (hNT)) on parylene-C/SiO(2) substrates. This communication, reports how we have successfully managed to pattern the supportive cell to the neuron, the hNT astrocyte, on such substrates. Here we disseminate the nanofabrication, cell differentiation and cell culturing protocols necessary to successfully pattern the first human hNT astrocytes to single cell resolution on parylene-C/SiO(2) substrates. This is performed for varying parylene strip widths providing excellent contrast to the SiO(2) substrate and elegant single cell isolation at 10 μm strip widths. The breakthrough in patterning human cells on a silicon chip has widespread implications and is valuable as a platform technology as it enables a detailed study of the human brain at the cellular and network level.

• Authors: Charles P Unsworth, Euan S Graham, Evangelos Delivopoulos, Alan F Murray
• Journal: Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Annual International Conference (Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc) Vol. 2011 Pg. 3605-8 ( 2011) ISSN: 2694-0604 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22255119 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Polymers
• Xylenes
• parylene
• Silicon Dioxide

Topics

• Astrocytes (cytology)
• Cell Differentiation
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Humans
• Polymers (chemistry)
• Silicon Dioxide (chemistry)
• Teratocarcinoma (pathology)
• Xylenes (chemistry)