GUIDING NEURONS AND FIBROBLAST CELLS USING MICROFIBRICATION ON PHOTOPOLYMER FOR IN-SITU NAVIGATON OF CELLULAR PATTERNING

Abstract

Cellular patterning has diverse and potential applications in scientific research and engineering. We used laser holographic fabrication to construct the cellular patterning. By the interference of two laser beam on the polymer micro and nanoscale grooves were generated on the photoresponsive polymer. The growth of rat hippocampal neurons were controlled with the microfabricated structure. The directions of neurites were predominant in the perpendicular direction of the grooves and the growth rates of the neurites were also stimulated. Two dimensional cellular patterning of fibroblast cells was constructed along the patterned microstructures on the polymer. These results indicate the feasibility of guiding neurons and fibroblast cells with laser holography, opening the possibility for in-situ navigation in living cells.