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First human hNT neurons patterned on parylene-C/silicon dioxide substrates: Combining an accessible cell line and robust patterning technology for the study of the pathological adult human brain

This international consortium paper reports the first patterning of a silicon surface that is compatible with integrated circuit technology and causes human neurons and other cells to grow in an ordered manner. This builds on DoI:10.1016/j.biomaterials.2008.12.049, and is a form of silicon chip post-processing, thus overcoming the limitations of alternative techniques. It facilitates the investigation of guided neural cell growth on silicon, to better understand nerve cell behaviour. The method can therefore be used for drug development and assay and ultimately has the potential to underpin new, smart prostheses in humans. Media interest was intense (e.g. Financial Times and http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7867724.stm).