Arrangement of PC12 Cells on a Silicon Chip via Extracellular Matrix (ECM) Layer Patterning by Atmospheric Pressure Plasmas

It is shown that neuronal model cells PC12 (rat adrenal pheochromocytoma cell line) can be cultured on a silicon (Si) substrate with the use of extracellular matrix (ECM) patterned by atmospheric-pressure plasmas (APPs). Arrangement of neuron cells in a desired pattern on a Si chip is an important step for the development of neuron cell chips. In the experiments, 100-200 µm wide strips of ECM (Poly-L-Lysine) layers arranged in parallel were formed on a 1 cm2 area of a Si surface by the APP etching technique and PC12 cells were shown to grow on the ECM strips. The APP etching technique for ECM layers provides a simple mean of arranging neuron cells on a relatively large area of a Si surface.