The disordered environment found in conventional neural cultures impedes various applications where cell directionality is a key process for functionality. Neurons are highly specialized cells known to be greatly dependent on interactions with their surroundings. Therefore, when chemical cues are incorporated on the surface material, a precise control over neuronal behavior can be achieved. Here, the behavior of SH-SY5Y neurons on a variety of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) and polymer brushes both in isolation and combination to promote cellular spatial control was determined. APTES and BIBB coatings promoted the highest cell viability, proliferation, metabolic activity, and neuronal maturation, while low cell survival was seen on PKSPMA and PMETAC surfaces. These cell-attractive and repulsive surfaces were combined to generate a binary BIBB-PKSPMA coating, whereby cellular growth was restricted to an exclusive neural region. The utility of these coatings when precisely combined could act as a bioactive/bioinert surface resulting in a biomimetic environment where control over neuronal growth and directionality can be achieved.

中文翻译：

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使用化学表面涂层产生的神经和非神经区域

在传统神经培养中发现的无序环境阻碍了细胞方向性是功能的关键过程的各种应用。神经元是高度特化的细胞，已知在很大程度上依赖于与周围环境的相互作用。因此，当将化学线索结合到表面材料上时，可以实现对神经元行为的精确控制。在这里，确定了 SH-SY5Y 神经元在各种自组装单层 (SAM) 和聚合物刷上的行为，无论是分离的还是组合的，以促进细胞空间控制。APTES 和 BIBB 涂层促进了最高的细胞活力、增殖、代谢活性和神经元成熟，而 PKSPMA 和 PMETAC 表面的细胞存活率较低。这些细胞吸引和排斥的表面结合起来产生二元 BIBB-PKSPMA 涂层，从而细胞生长被限制在一个专有的神经区域。当精确组合时，这些涂层的效用可以充当生物活性/生物惰性表面，从而形成仿生环境，可以实现对神经元生长和方向性的控制。