Abstract Proper brain function relies on the precise arrangement and flow of information between diverse neural subtypes. Developing improved human cell-based models which faithfully mimic biologically relevant connectivity patterns may improve drug screening efforts given the limited success of animal models to predict safety and efficacy of therapeutics in human clinical trials. To address this […]
In vitro modeling of human brain connectomes is key to explore the structure-function relationship of the centralnervous system. The comprehension of this intricate relationship will serve to better study the pathological mechanismsof neurodegeneration, and hence to perform improved drug screenings for complex neurological disorders, such asAlzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. However, currently used in vitro modeling […]
ABSTRACT The central nervous system is a dense, layered, 3D interconnected network of populations of neurons,and thus recapitulating that complexity for in vitro CNS models requires methods that can createdefined topologically-complex neuronal networks. Several three-dimensional patterning approacheshave been developed but none have demonstrated the ability to control the connections betweenpopulations of neurons. Here we report […]
Abstract Axons in the developing nervous system are directed via guidance cues, whose expression varies both spatially and temporally, to create functional neural circuits. Existing methods to create patterns of neural connectivity in vitro use only static geometries, and are unable to dynamically alter the guidance cues imparted on the cells. We introduce the use of AC electrokinetics to […]