Automated quantification of neurite outgrowth orientation distributions on patterned surfaces

作者：Payne Matthew^*; Wang Dadong; Sinclair Catriona M; Kapsa Robert M I; Quigley Anita F; Wallace Gordon G; Razal Joselito M; Baughman Ray H; Muench Gerald; Vallotton Pascal

来源：Journal of Neural Engineering, 2014, 11(4): 046006.

DOI：10.1088/1741-2560/11/4/046006

• neurite outgrowth
• neurite anisotropy
• orientation distribution
• micro-patterned surfaces
• image analysis

Objective. We have developed an image analysis methodology for quantifying the anisotropy of neuronal projections on patterned substrates. Approach. Our method is based on the fitting of smoothing splines to the digital traces produced using a non-maximum suppression technique. This enables precise estimates of the local tangents uniformly along the neurite length, and leads to unbiased orientation distributions suitable for objectively assessing the anisotropy induced by tailored surfaces. Main results. In our application, we demonstrate that carbon nanotubes arrayed in parallel bundles over gold surfaces induce a considerable neurite anisotropy; a result which is relevant for regenerative medicine. Significance. Our pipeline is generally applicable to the study of fibrous materials on 2D surfaces and should also find applications in the study of DNA, microtubules, and other polymeric materials.

• 出版日期2014-8
• 单位CSIRO; 迪肯大学