Output details
13 - Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Metallurgy and Materials
University of Sheffield : B - Materials Science and Engineering
Patterned growth of neuronal cells on modified diamond-like carbon substrates
This paper shows for the first time the potential of Diamond-Like-Carbon (DLC) for brain implants. It describes the optimisation of phosphorus-doped DLC for growth of primary central nervous system neurons. We exploited differences in cell adhesion to these surfaces to culture, for the first time, a predetermined micropattern of cortical neurones on DLC to precisely study neuronal networks. This approach was validated by a follow-up study (DOI:10.1016/j.biomaterials.2009.09.042) and a successful EPSRC grant application (EP/K002503/1, £639k), which is exploring these coatings for brain-computer interfaces. This study has been followed up by other groups studying DLC for neural/bone implants and stents (DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2009.01.013).