Figure 2.

Representative cryo-EM image (A) showing an artificial synapse formed between hippocampal neurons (DIV 8) grown on a sterile, PLL coated Au/Quantifoil grid and poly-d-lysine coated 500 nm silica beads. Microtubular networks (white arrow heads) are also visible. Similarly coated beads that are not in contact with neurons are also visible in the image. Few synaptic vesicles (black arrowheads) are also visible. White arrow indicates the contact area at the synaptic junction, which in this case is between an axon and a bead. (B) Simplified sketch (not to scale) depicting the structural components of the artificial synapse seen in (A).