Abstract

Proper alignment of neural cells is critical for maintaining their physiological function, while it is still challenging to induce and monitor such alignment in a cost-effective manner. Here, we presented a novel monitoring system to fulfill this unmet need by integrating decellularized lotus with microfluidic chips. The decellularized lotus petioles were demonstrated to be high cytocompatibilty. As a naturally derived scaffold with porous structures and topological features, these lotus petioles facilitated the alignment and differentiation of neural PC12 cells. In addition, the aligned neural networks exhibited enhanced neural activities such as firing, suggesting the effectiveness of decellularized lotus petioles in improving neural function. To monitor cell alignment efficiently, the multifunctional neuron-on-a-chip system was constructed by integrating decellularized lotus petioles inside a “Christmas tree” microfluidics. As the microfluidics could form stable gradient of nerve growth factors (NGF), the concentration dependent neurite growth of the cultured PC12 cells could be observed. Based on these features, the practical values of the decellularized lotus integrated microfluidic chips were demonstrated by their ability to effectively induce as well as real-time monitoring of cell alignment in a “green’, cost-saving and high-throughput manner. Thus, we believed that such a system could benefit future research on neuronal cells and open a new route for neural regenerative medicine .