Neurites: Control over Neurite Directionality and Neurite Elongation on Anisotropic Micropillar Arrays (Small 9/2016)

Neurons, like most cells, exhibit strong morphological responses to the physical features of their environment, and topographical structures are often utilized to elicit unique neuronal behavior. On page 1148, I. S. Choi and co-workers demonstrate directional control over the neurites of primary hippocampal neurons by using anisotropic pillar topographies as a culture platform. The relationship between inter-pillar distances and the fidelity of unidirectional neurite alignment is explored, and it is shown that neurites preferentially elongate along the closest available pillars. This work features a purely physical means of controlling the orientation of neurite outgrowth, and highlights a valuable platform for studies regarding neuroregeneration or neuronal network formation.