Analysis of neurite length of hippocampal neurons cultured into 3D artificial network patterned microfluidic chips

Abstract

Purpose: The study aims to lay a foundational probe for the thorough application microfluidic chips in brain function research with microfluidic chips. Neuron slide culture is a common culture method in vitro, and the microfluidic chip with the artificial network pattern not only can realize neuron cells 3 D culture in vitro, but also limit the extension space of neurite outgrow.

Materials and Methods: In order to analyze the differences of hippocampal cells neurite growth length between the 3 D chips and the common 2 D culture, the experiments utilized statistical analysis method analyzing the length of the hippocampus neuron neurite of 3 days, 5 days and 7 days, respectively, with the common glass slide 2 D culture method and the microfluidic chip 3 D culture in vitro.

Results: The results showed that there was no significant difference in the neurite length after 3 days. However, there was a significant difference after 5 days and 7 days. It can be seen that the microfluidic chip with artificial network pattern has limitations to the growth of neurite after 5 days.

Conclusions: We concluded that the growth state of hippocampal cells in the restricted 3 D space is different from that of conventional 2 D culture.It showed that the artificial network pattern design has limited the growth space of the dendrites but also affected its growth.

Keywords:

• Microfluidic chip
• artificial network pattern
• hippocampal cells
• the length of neurite

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Beijing natural science foundation of China(No.4132017). And project supported by scientific research fund of advanced innovation on future chip technology center in Beijing (No.KYJJ2016011).