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KMID : 1377020130100050266
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Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
2013 Volume.10 No. 5 p.266 ~ p.272
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Neuronal polarity mediated by micro-scale protein patterns and Schwann cells in vitro
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Shaden AM Khalifa
Per Bjork
Christian Vieider
Mats Ulfendahl
Eric Scarfone
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Abstract
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Implantable electrical devices have been in use over decades to restore vital functions. Among the wellknown devices are pace makers for regulating heart rate, neurostimulators for treating neurological disorders, and cochlear implants for rescuing the hearing organ. The cochlear implant is used for patients with severe neuro-sensory hearing loss. The implant consists of an electrode that provides electrical stimuli to the spiral ganglion neurons in the cochlea, thus eliciting impulses in the pathways that normally convey auditory information from the hearing organ to the brainstem. However, disorganization of the residual spiral ganglion collaterals within and around the same frequency region of the electrode can lead to non-specific signaling and thereafter inability to discriminate the sounds. A situation that can limit considerably the maximum recovery of the auditory function after cochlear implantation. Thus, strategies that promote functional mimicry in close vicinity of the electrode are considered as potential solutions. The strict bipolarity of sensory neurons is a unique micro anatomical peculiarity of the inner ear innervations and may constitute a new option to improve sound perception within localized frequency range. In this paper, we show that minimal guidance cues provided via a simple printing technique using patterns soaked with proteins are enough to modify profoundly the polarity of regenerating spiral ganglion neurons. Regenerating spiral ganglion neurons preferentially acquired uni-or bi-polar morphology with limited branching on alternating lines structured surfaces. The neuronal processes grow in a direction parallel to the lines for distances that exceeds 2 mm.
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KEYWORD
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spiral ganglia, neuron, micro-contact-printing, neuronal polarity, structured surface, Schwann cells
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