Guidance and detection of neuronal cells using Si nanomembranes

"Lab-on-a-chip" microfluidic technology [1] has emerged as a powerful tool for studying biological systems. Unlike standard macro-scale systems used for decades, microfluidics allows the micro-environment of a neuronal cell culture to be finely regulated. The reduction in feature sizes gives control over fluid phenomena such as laminar flow, shear stresses, and velocity profiles. Here we present a new approach to ``lab-on-a-chip'' design for studying neuronal cells, integrating microfluidic systems with silicon nanomembrane-based microelectronics. We show that this technology permits rapid production of microchannels with a large variety of shapes/sizes, thereby allowing the exposure of neuronal cell cultures to multiple environments, both mechanical and chemical, simultaneously. In addition, these microfluidic channels can be easily integrated with silicon nanomembrane based electronics. [1] A.J.Blake, T.M.Pearce, N.S.Rao, S.M.Johnson and J. C. Williams, Lab Chip, 2007, 7, 842.