Fig. 1.

Design of micropatterned co-culture platform. A Side view of the sealed channels. A thin layer of PLL is coated onto polystyrene substrate before the micropatterned PDMS is attached to the substrate. The PDMS channel is placed side faced down to achieve sealed channels for the axons to grow and extend. B Top view of the platform. Freshly isolated DRG neurons are seeded onto one of the open area at one end of the channels, and the regenerating axons extend into the channels. The open area on the opposite side remains empty as the negative control. C To promote axon extension, SCs are seeded on the open area (opposite to the DRGs) as the regenerating DRG axons approach that end of the channels