Printing patterned substrates for analysis of axonal growth and regeneration:app

描述(申请人提供)：BioForce Nano Enabler 4.6是一种分子打印机，可用于在包括3D表面在内的各种表面上产生图案化的分子衬底。纳米级的精确度和多功能性几乎可以将任何生物材料沉积到各种各样的表面上，这使得Nano Enabler独一无二。在这里提出的实验中，Nano Enabler将用于解决有关神经元对发育和再生过程中遇到的信号蛋白的反应的问题。这些问题将从不同的角度进行探讨，因为来自细胞神经科学、干细胞生物学(重点研究神经退行性疾病)和生物工程/材料科学的不同研究人员将在体外研究细胞分化、加工和突触形成的机制。最终，在这些研究中获得的结果将被用于设计体内治疗策略，从而改善成年受伤或患病的中枢神经系统的再生。所有使用者的实验将包括将单分子和复杂的多组分分子图案打印到生理或生物工程底物上，以研究潜在的信号机制，包括(1)神经元分化和神经元亚型指定，(2)发育过程中的轴突动力学(生长锥运动，轴突延伸，引导和分支)，(3)树突形成，(4)突触形成和可塑性(使用神经肌肉突触作为模型系统)，以及(5)干细胞/神经元对类似于成人受损的中枢神经系统环境的抑制分子组合的反应。此外，Nano Enabler将用于筛选3D水凝胶支架中的组件，这些支架将作为多功能平台，允许将细胞和治疗因素输送到损伤部位。)

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The BioForce Nano eNabler 4.6 is a molecular printer that can be used to produce patterned molecular substrates on a variety of surfaces, including 3D surfaces. The nanoscale precision and versatility to deposit practically any biomaterial onto a large variety of surfaces is makes the Nano eNabler unique. In the experiments proposed here, the Nano eNabler will be used to address questions regarding the response of neurons to signaling proteins encountered during development and regeneration. The questions will be approached from different angles as a diverse group of researchers from the fields of cellular neuroscience, stem cell biology with focus on neurodegenerative disorders, and bioengineering/material science will investigate mechanisms of cell differentiation and process and synapse formation in vitro. Ultimately, the results obtained in these studies will be used to design in vivo treatment strategies that lead to improved regeneration in the adult injured or diseased CNS. Experiments of all users will involve the printing of single molecules and complex multicomponent patterns of molecules onto physiological or bioengineered substrates to investigate underlying signaling mechanisms implicated in (1) neuron differentiation and neuronal subtype specification, (2) axon dynamics during development (growth cone motility, axon extension, guidance and branching), (3) dendritic arbor formation, (4) synapse formation and plasticity (using the neuromuscular synapse as a model system), and (5) stem cell/neuron responses to inhibitory molecule combination resembling the adult injured CNS environment. In addition, the Nano eNabler will be used to screen components for incorporation in 3D hydrogel scaffolds that will serve as multifunctional platforms allowing the delivery of cells and therapeutic factors to the injury site. )