A chip that allows neurons to grow in isolation could be used to study how cells communicate.

Neurons communicate by altering the chemical environment between them. However, these chemicals also keep neurons alive and so, until now, neurons could be kept alive only at high densities in vitro, making it difficult to measure the changes in the chemicals between individual cells. In response to this, a group led by Martha Gillette at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the US, has developed a method of culturing neurons at low density.

Gillette decided to investigate how microfluidics could be used to grow neuron cultures in vitro. She explained that, 'while interfacing neurons and microdevices is a rapidly developing field, there has been a need to address how to facilitate culture at the nanolitre scale of very low densities of cells.' The group has optimised conditions in microfluidic devices so that neurons can survive for around 11 days as opposed to 3 or 4. They used a material commonly employed in microfluidics but by heating the chip and washing it with buffer have made the nanolitre channels a suitable environment to grow neurons.

The group's long term goal is to be able to analyse cell-to-cell signals to find new treatments for brain damage and disease. With this aim, Gillette and her team plan to build upon this method to address fundamental questions about brain cell function and communication. 

Laura Howes