Electric Field-Induced Effects on Neuronal Cell Biology Accompanying Dielectrophoretic Trapping (Advances in Anatomy, Embryology and Cell Biology Vol.173) (2003. IX, 80 p. w. 53 ill.)

The concept of the cultured neuron probe was induced by the possible selective stimulation of nerves for functional recovery after a neural lesion or disease. The probe consists of a micro-electrode array on top of which groups of neuronal cells are cultured. An efficient method to position groups of neuronal cells on top of the stimulation sites of the micro-electrode array is developed. With negative dielectrophoretic forces, produced by non-uniform electric fields on polarizable particles, neuronal cells are trapped. Experimental results and model simulations describe the trapping process and its effect on neuronal cell viability. 1 Introduction.- 1.1 Neuro-Electronic Interfacing.- 1.2 Culturing Neuronal Cells.- 1.3 Positioning and Culturing Neuronal Cells on a Microelectrode Array.- 1.4 Dielectrophoresis.- 1.5 Scope of This Review.- 2 Dielectrophoretic Trapping of Neuronal Cells.- 2.1 Theory.- 2.2 Materials.- 2.3 Theoretical Description of Dielectrophoretic Trapping.- 2.4 Experimental Description of Dielectrophoretic Trapping.- 3 Exposing Neuronal Cells to Electric Fields.- 3.1 Theory.- 3.2 Theoretical Investigation of Induced Membrane Potentials of Neuronal Cells.- 3.3 Experimental Investigation of Neuronal Membrane Breakdown.- 4 Investigating Viability of Dielectrophoretically Trapped Neuronal Cells.- 4.1 Viability of Neuronal Cells Trapped at a High Frequency.- 4.2 Viability of Neuronal Cells Trapped at Low Frequencies.- 4.3 Recording Neuronal Activity.- 5 Summary.- References.