Interactions between E18 Rat Hippocampal Neurons and Au-nanowire Arrays

摘要

The anodization of aluminum templates created nanoporous alumina tubes arranged parallel to each other and electrodeposition using gold solution (AuHCl_4) resulted in arrays of gold nanowires (GNWs) inside the pores. For investigation of Au-nano-neuronal interactions, we have cultured embryonic day 18 rat hippocampal neurons on the surface of nanowires. For preliminary understanding of the neuronal growth and connectivity, we studied the images of nano-neuronal interactions by using optical, fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). For adhesion of neurons to nanoarrays surfaces, we used bioconjugating protein coating Poly-D-Lysine (PDL). The embryonic hippocampal tissues were dissociated mechanically and cultured on Au-nano templates. We demonstrated well-defined neuronal networks on Au-nanowire (GNW) arrays and on standard glass coverslips. The neurons attached with the nanowires surfaces by an interface of PDL, which is a positively charged poly-peptide and plays a vital role in neurites growth on the nanowire arrays. The pre- and post-synaptic affects of neuronal interactions on the surfaces of nanowires were measured by Ca+ imaging in Keck microscope.