Controlled extracellular topographical and chemical cues for acceleration of neuronal development

Abstract Physical and chemical cues, which have emerged as a promising strategy for regulating cellular behaviors, provide important signaling cues to living cells. Neurons are also exposed to distinguishing physical and chemical environments that can greatly influence their behaviors and functions. In this study, we proposed the laminin-coated matrix nanotopography platforms (LMNPs) that generate extracellular physical and chemical cues for neuronal development. Using our platforms, we showed that nanotopographical and biochemical cues could provide suitable environments for neuronal cultures. More importantly, we showed that a LMNPs could control the orientation of neuronal structures as well as accelerate neuronal development through synergistic effects of extracellular nanotopographical and chemical cues. Our study imparts new design principles on the role of nanotopographical and chemical cues in neuronal development for the fabrication of neuroprosthetic scaffolds.