Microfabricated Platform for Directional Neural Microcircuits in Silicon-Glass

We present a microfluidic device for creating defined neural microcircuits by directional axon guidance of two distinct neuron populations. Directional guiding is achieved by a modified version of the ‘stomach’ shape developed by Forró [1], and two different cell population are made possible by a multilayer silicon-glass construction. Preliminary experiments were conducted by culturing neurons for 2 weeks, with fluorescent microscopy suggesting directional network formation based on two distinct neuron populations. This opens a wide range of possibilities in creating a platform for biological models of more advanced neural microcircuits consisting of distinct cell lines and neuronal subtypes.