A microfluidic platform for three-dimensional neuron culture

Neurodegenerative diseases typically affect a limited number of specific neuronal subtypes, and the death of these neurons causes permanent loss of a specific motor function. Efforts to restore function would require regenerating the affected cells, but progress is limited by a narrow understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the generation of these neurons from their progenitor cells. In order to prevent neuronal degeneration and potentially repair or regenerate the damaged motor output circuitry, it will be necessary to understand the molecular and genetic factors that control, direct, and enhance differentiation, axonal projection and connectivity. While techniques are available to separate specific populations of neurons once they are fully-differentiated, current methods make it nearly impossible to monitor or control the development of a neural precursor in standard open culture. To carry out directed differentiation experiments effectively, it will be critical to control how signals are introduced to the cells. In this study, we present a microfluidic system to address the limitations of previous research.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Biological Engineering Division.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2007

Author dc:creator

• Varner, Johanna (Johanna M.)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Roger D. Kamm.

• Biological Engineering Division.

Statement dc:rights

• MIT theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed, downloaded, or printed from this source but further reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/39919

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/39919