Cultures of neurons on micro-electrode array and control of their axon growth in hybrid retinal implant

The purpose of the study is to develop a visual prosthesis for blind patients, called the hybrid retinal implant. In this prosthesis, it is necessary to culture neurons on the array, and to guide their axons toward the central nervous system (CNS). In this research, the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons of an adult rat were cultured on a multi-electrode dish (MED), and the axon guidance was tested by means of the concentration gradient of a nerve growth factor (NGF). The neurons extended their processes on the MED. Although the NGF facilitates the axonal growth, it failed to guide axons in a certain direction