Bioinspired micro- and nano-structured neural interfaces

Nanotechnology, vol. 33, pp. 492501

Abstract

Abstract The development of a functional nervous system requires neurons to interact with and promptly respond to a wealth of biochemical, mechanical and topographical cues found in the neural extracellular matrix (ECM). Among these, ECM topographical cues have been found to strongly influence neuronal function and behavior. Here, we discuss how the blueprint of the architectural organization of the brain ECM has been tremendously useful as a source of inspiration to design biomimetic substrates to enhance neural interfaces and dictate neuronal behavior at the cell-material interface. In particular, we focus on different strategies to recapitulate cell-ECM and cell–cell interactions. In order to mimic cell-ECM interactions, we introduce roughness as a first approach to provide informative topographical biomimetic cues to neurons. We then examine 3D scaffolds and hydrogels, as softer 3D platforms for neural interfaces. Moreover, we will discuss how anisotropic features such as grooves and fibers, recapitulating both ECM fibrils and axonal tracts, may provide recognizable paths and tracks that neuron can follow as they develop and establish functional connections. Finally, we show how isotropic topographical cues, recapitulating shapes, and geometries of filopodia- and mushroom-like dendritic spines, have been instrumental to better reproduce neuron–neuron interactions for applications in bioelectronics and neural repair strategies. The high complexity of the brain architecture makes the quest for the fabrication of create more biologically relevant biomimetic architectures in continuous and fast development. Here, we discuss how recent advancements in two-photon polymerization and remotely reconfigurable dynamic interfaces are paving the way towards to a new class of smart biointerfaces for in vitro applications spanning from neural tissue engineering as well as neural repair strategies.

Authors 4

1. Anna Mariano

   Italian Institute of Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Tissue Electronics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, I-80125 Naples, Italy

2. Claudia Latte Bovio

   Italian Institute of Technology · University of Naples Federico II

   Affiliation as printed

   Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali e Produzione Industriale, Università di Napoli Federico II, I-80125, Naples, Italy

   Tissue Electronics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, I-80125 Naples, Italy

3. Valeria Criscuolo Aachen Faculty of Electrical Engineering and IT

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Faculty of Electrical Engineering and IT, RWTH Aachen, D-52074, Germany

4. Francesca Santoro Aachen Faculty of Electrical Engineering and IT

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · Italian Institute of Technology · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Faculty of Electrical Engineering and IT, RWTH Aachen, D-52074, Germany

   Institute for Biological Information Processing-Bioelectronics, Forschungszentrum Juelich, D-52428, Germany

   Tissue Electronics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, I-80125 Naples, Italy