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    PAN hollow fiber membranes elicit functional hippocampal neuronal network

    Year: 2012

    Journal: Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine 2012, 23 (1) pp 149-156, 20121211

    Authors: Sabrina Morelli, Antonella Piscioneri, Simona Salerno, Franco Tasselli, Anna Di Vito, Giuseppina Giusi, Marcello Canonaco, Enrico Drioli and Loredana De Bartolo

    Organizations: Institute on Membrane Technology, National Research Council of Italy, ITM-CNR, c/o University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci, cubo 17/C, 87030 Rende, CS, Italy, Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials of University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci cubo 45/A, 87030 Rende, CS, Italy, Comparative Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Department of Ecology, University of Calabria, Via P. Bucci 4/B, 87030 Rende, CS, Italy, WCU Energy Engineering Department, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea

    This study focuses on the development of an advanced in vitro biohybrid culture model system based on the use of hollow fibre membranes (HFMs) and hippocampal neurons in order to promote the formation of a high density neuronal network. Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and modified polyetheretherketone (PEEK-WC) membranes were prepared in hollow fibre configuration. The morphological and metabolic behaviour of hippocampal neurons cultured on PAN HF membranes were compared with those cultured on PEEK-WC HF. The differences of cell behaviour between HFMs were evidenced by the morphometric analysis in terms of axon length and also by the investigation of metabolic activity in terms of neurotrophin secretion. These findings suggested that PAN HFMs induced the in vitro reconstruction of very highly functional and complex neuronal networks. Thus, these biomaterials could potentially be used for the in vitro realization of a functional hippocampal tissue analogue for the study of neurobiological functions and/or neurodegenerative diseases.