Neural cell pattern formation on microelectronic device surfaces

For the study of networks of live nerve cells it is necessary to control adhesion and outgrowth of these cells and to record signals from multiple sites. We have chosen to detect the electrical signal of the neuron by direct coupling with a field-effect transistor. Our approach to control the chemical composition of the surface of such a device is to attach ultrathin polymer films to the device surface by using a novel grafting from procedure. It can be shown that the composition of the surface can be tuned in such a way that neural cells grow only in defined regions. This method allow the patterning with lithographic techniques to create cell guidance for real neural networks.