Guidance of neuronal growth with DEP

J. James Jun

PresenterUniversity of Calgary

Dr. Rudolf PotucekSupervisorUniversity of Calgary

January 25, 2007

2

Application of dielectrophoresis(DEP) for directing neuronal growth

Neuronal Guidance

Theory of DEP

Modeling & Experiment

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Neuronal growth: random vs. directed

Random Directed

4

Electric forces: Electrophoresis vs Dielectrophoresis

Electrophoresis

Any electric fields

Charged object

DC

Dielectrophoresis

Spatially varying field

Polarizable object

DC or AC

EPF qE

DEPF p E

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Modeling and Experiment

Microsphere

BrainPond snail Neuron

Field Modeling Vision Tracking

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Experiment with polymer bead

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Electric field modelingQuadruple electrodes configuration

top

side

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Computer vision tracking

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Experiment with a live snail neuronChallenges

More complicated than the experiment with beads

Long term experiment (3 days)

Need an evaporation control with perfusion system

Need a neurotrophic factor enriched medium

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Conclusions DEP can be used to direct a neuronal growth with electric field modeling and computer vision trackingDEP is a non-contact force and bio-chemically safe

Electric field modeling to optimizes DEP parameters

Computer vision tracking to track a growthcone

Experiments planned with beads then snail neurons

Questions?