Spider Silk as Guiding Biomaterial for Human Model Neurons
Figure 2
Cross-fixed spider silk fibers on cover slips with human model neurons forming ganglion-like structures. (a) Scheme of a 25 mm glass cover slip with 4 × 4 cross-fixed silk fibers. (b) Phase contrast image of NT2 neurons seeded on a cover slip with spider silk fibers fixed to it. (c) Neurons establishing initial contact with a fiber of spider silk after 24 hours in culture. The outgrowing neurite uses the silk fiber as guidance scaffold. (d) After 36 hours, more neurons established contact to the silk fiber and started relocation of the soma from glass surface to the silk fiber. (e) After 5 days in culture, aggregates formed by neurons became bigger with bundles of neurites emerging into the surrounding area. (f) After three to four weeks in culture, neurons seeded to spider silk fibers formed large ganglion-like structures along the silk. Neurons are stained against neuronal β-type-III-tubulin (magenta) and DAPI (cyan) to visualize the nuclei. Scale bars are 200 μm ((b), (f)) and 25 μm ((c)–(e)).
