Figure 3. Systems for modeling neuronal architecture in vitro.

A) A microfluidic-based culture platform to direct axonal growth of CNS neurons; two chambers (yellow and black) are connected via sub-cellular diameter channels which allow axon growth between chambers and polarization of axonal and somal sides (Reprinted by permission from Macmillan Publishers Ltd; Nature Methods ⁵² Copyright 2011). B) A microfluidic chip enabling for multiplexed electrophysiological experiments on cultured neurons: microfluidic junctions between the main cell culture chamber and lateral recording capillaries allows for patch clamp recordings of cell (green) activities (Reprinted from Ref ⁵³ with permission from PNAS Copyright 2005 National Academy of Sciences, U.S.A). C) The use of vacuum soft lithography to pattern biomolecules and direct neuronal adhesion and polarization: adhesion molecules are patterned on a glass coverslip using a microfluidic template to allow for directed cell growth (Reproduced in part from Ref ⁵⁴ with permission of The Royal Society of Chemistry). D) the artificial synapse; a micro-aperture allows for delivery of pico liter volumes of neurotransmitter to neuronal dendrites enabling detailed investigation of synaptic activity (Reprinted from Ref ⁵⁵ with permission from John Wiley and Sons Inc. Artificial Organs. Copyright 2003).