Adhesion and patterning of cortical neurons on polyethylenimine and fluorocarboncoated surfaces

Adhesion and patterning of cortical neurons on modified glass surfaces was investigated. Patterns of cortical neurons were prepared with a combination of polyethylenimine (PEI) and plasma-deposited fluorocarbon (FC). In addition neurite development and fasciculation of interconnecting neurites between PEI-coated areas was studied. The patterns consisted of PEI-coated circular holes (diameter 150 μm) which were initially etched in a FC layer. The separation distance between the PEI-coated circular holes was varied from 10 up to 90 μm. This paper shows that the chemical patterns, prepared with a combination of PEI and plasma deposited FC, results in highly compliant patterns of adhering cortical neurons. Furthermore it was shown that interconnecting neurite bundles between neurons on the PEI-coated circular holes were especially present on the pattern with a minimal separation distance (10 μm) between the PEI-coated circular holes. In contrast interconnecting neurite bundles were hardly observed on patterns with a maximal separation distance (90 μm) between the PEI-coated circular holes