Bioengineering 3D Neural Networks Using Magnetic Manipulations

摘要

Controlling nerve cells to form pre-designed 3D neural networks that recapitulatethe intricate neural interconnectivity in the brain is essential fordeveloping neuronal interfaces and new regeneration approaches. Here,nerve cells within 3D biomaterials are dynamically localized using nano-basedmagnetic manipulations. Nerve cells are transformed into magnetic units andtheir organizational layout is manipulated using external magnetic field gradients.Iron oxide nanoparticles are incorporated into both Pheochromocytomacell-line 12 (PC12) cells and primary mice cortical neurons and the magnetizedcells are subjected to multiple magnetic fields using pre-designed magneticarrays. Their movement is controlled inside multi-layered 3D collagen scaffolds,which simulate the innate properties of in-vivo tissue structures. Viathese magnetic manipulations, functional 3D microarchitectures of neuralnetworks are created. In light of the clustered and layered structure of themammalian central nervous system, this strategy paves the way to creatingcustomized 3D tissue architectures for bioengineering applications, enablinga broad range of advanced implementations and providing efficient modelsfor investigating cellular and tissue behavior.