Biofunctionalized 3D Nanopillar Arrays Fostering Cell Guidance and Promoting Synapse Stability and Neuronal Activity in Networks

A controlled geometry of in vitro neuronal networks allows investigation of the cellular mechanisms that underlie neuron-to-neuron and neuron-extracellular matrix interactions, which are essential to biomedical research. Herein, we report a selective guidance of primary hippocampal neurons by using arrays of three-dimensional vertical nanopillars (NPs) functionalized with a specific adhesion-promoting molecule-poly-dl-ornithine (PDLO). We show that 90% of neuronal cells are guided exclusively on the combinatorial PDLO/NP substrate. Moreover, we demonstrate the influence of the interplay between nanostructures and neurons on synapse formation and maturation, resulting in increased expression of postsynaptic density-95 protein and enhanced network cellular activity conferred by the endogenous c-fos expression. Successful guidance to foster synapse stability and cellular activity on multilevel cues of surface topography and chemical functionalization suggests the potential to devise technologies to control neuronal growth on nanostructures for tissue engineering, neuroprostheses, and drug development.