A device for the graded mechanostimulation of cultured neurons

This work presents an in vitro platform for studying the effects of physiologically relevant, axonally applied mechanical insult to neurons in culture. Design considerations are presented, and finite element studies are shown to establish proof of concept. The mold for creating the device was microf...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Norman, Harrison E.
Other Authors: Ethier, Ross
Format: Others
Language:en_US
Published: Georgia Institute of Technology 2015
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1853/53105
Description
Summary:This work presents an in vitro platform for studying the effects of physiologically relevant, axonally applied mechanical insult to neurons in culture. Design considerations are presented, and finite element studies are shown to establish proof of concept. The mold for creating the device was microfabricated in a cleanroom for use in the replica molding of the device. The process of fabricating the final device is then detailed. Initial biocompatibility assays are presented, and experiments for characterizing the function of the device are proposed.