Controlled assembly of retinal cells on fractal and Euclidean electrodes

PLoS One. 2022 Apr 6;17(4):e0265685. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265685. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Controlled assembly of retinal cells on artificial surfaces is important for fundamental cell research and medical applications. We investigate fractal electrodes with branches of vertically-aligned carbon nanotubes and silicon dioxide gaps between the branches that form repeating patterns spanning from micro- to milli-meters, along with single-scaled Euclidean electrodes. Fluorescence and electron microscopy show neurons adhere in large numbers to branches while glial cells cover the gaps. This ensures neurons will be close to the electrodes' stimulating electric fields in applications. Furthermore, glia won't hinder neuron-branch interactions but will be sufficiently close for neurons to benefit from the glia's life-supporting functions. This cell 'herding' is adjusted using the fractal electrode's dimension and number of repeating levels. We explain how this tuning facilitates substantial glial coverage in the gaps which fuels neural networks with small-world structural characteristics. The large branch-gap interface then allows these networks to connect to the neuron-rich branches.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Electrodes
  • Fractals*
  • Nanotubes, Carbon* / chemistry
  • Neuroglia
  • Neurons

Substances

  • Nanotubes, Carbon

Associated data

  • figshare/10.6084/m9.figshare.19127894

Grants and funding

RPT, CMN, and BJA: • W. M. Keck Foundation http://www.wmkeck.org/ The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. RPT, WJW, and MTP: • The Pufendorf Institute https://www.pi.lu.se/en/pufendorf-ias The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. RPT: • The Living Legacy Foundation https://www.thellf.org/ The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. • The Ciminelli Foundation The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. • University of Oregon https://www.uoregon.edu/ The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. MTP: • The Swedish Research Council - # 2016-03757 https://www.vr.se/english.html The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. • NanoLund at Lund University https://www.nano.lu.se/ The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. • Stiftelsen för Synskadade i f.d. Malmöhus Län https://synskadademalmohus.se/ The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. • Crown Princess Margareta’s Committee for the Blind The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.