Development of a Compartmentalized Biochip for Axonal Isolation and Neuronal-Circuit Formation at the Single-Cell Level

In vitro neuronal networks in cell cultures have tremendous potential for the investigation of synapse formation, development, and function, especially with the development of microelectrode arrays. Most current techniques used to form a defined neuronal network are based on microcontact-printing, but the intercellular connections in the patterned low-density network are formed randomly, systematic study of a specific network is not possible. For such study, a practical tool for creating defined neuronal networks in which each intercellular connection can be formed according to a predetermined pattern is critical. In addition, because glia—particularly astrocytes—play an important role in neuronal network processing, a precise platform to study glia–neuron interaction at the single-cell level is necessary. In this chapter we describe a biochip-microfabrication technique and a unique laser cell-micropatterning system for creation of a compartmentalized, axon-isolating, polarized neuron-growth platform at the single-cell level.