Poor integration with target tissue significantly limits the effectiveness of nearly all neural prostheses. For example, cochlear implant (CI) recipients perform poorly with complex auditory tasks due to poor spatial and temporal resolution provided by the neural-electrode interface. Directing growth of spiral ganglion neuron (SGN) neurites into close proximity, or even contact, with the stimulating electrodes would likely improve spatial and temporal resolution and increase performance. To be useful, regrowth must be radial and directed towards the source of stimulation, recapitulating normal afferent cochlear innervation. To develop and understand technology designed to guide SGN neurite and Schwann cell (SC) growth, photopolymerization (PP), i.e. the formation of polymers using light, was used to create microchannels in biocompatible methacrylate polymers. These surface topographic features robustly guide SGN neurite and SGSC growth. We hypothesize that the ability of these physical cues to direct SGN neurite and SGSC alignment depends on specific surface topographic features and material properties and results from tuning of intracellular signals including RhoA and Rho associated kinase (ROCK). In response to BRG PA10-009, the work in this proposal is both design- and hypothesis-driven.
In aim 1 the excellent spatial reaction control afforded by PP will be leveraged to fabricate parallel line-space gratings with varied amplitude, periodicity, and surface nanoroughness. The extent to which these topographic features influence neurite and glial cell adhesion, survival and alignment to the pattern will then be determined. As cell-material interactions depend on substrate surface and mechanical properties in addition to surface topography, aim 2 determines the survival and morphological responses of neurons and glia to varied surface (e.g. polarity) and mechanical (e.g. stiffness) properties. Finally, aim 3 examines the contribution of RhoA/ROCK, key mediators of neurite guidance by chemorepulsive cues, to neurite and SC alignment to micropatterns. It also seeks to characterize second messenger systems including the cyclic nucleotides, cAMP and cGMP, that mediate neurite and SC alignment and RhoA/ROCK activity in response to surface topographies. The results of these studies will be among the first to define the basic mechanisms by which cells sense and respond to specific surface topographies and material properties. Furthermore, they will identify the topographic features and material properties necessary for future fabrication of scaffolds that can be used for in vivo neural regeneration models including the design of enhanced neuron:prosthesis interfaces.

Public Health Relevance

Cochlear implants represent the most successful neuroprosthesis in clinical use. They provide direct electrical stimulation to the auditory nerve t restore hearing to deaf patients. However, cochlear implant recipients usually struggle to understand complex auditory signals such as music. These studies seek to develop and understand novel technologies designed to guide regeneration of auditory nerve fibers to directly interface with cochlear implant electrodes. This will greatly improve the ability of cochlear implants to represent complex auditory signals and thereby increase performance. The results will also inform efforts to improve the interface of other neural prostheses and nerve repair conduits with target tissue.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01DC012578-01A1
Application #
8503972
Study Section
Auditory System Study Section (AUD)
Program Officer
Miller, Roger
Project Start
2013-03-04
Project End
2018-02-28
Budget Start
2013-03-04
Budget End
2014-02-28
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$300,000
Indirect Cost
$99,125
Name
University of Iowa
Department
Otolaryngology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
062761671
City
Iowa City
State
IA
Country
United States
Zip Code
52242
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Tuft, Bradley W; Xu, Linjing; Leigh, Braden et al. (2018) Photopolymerized micropatterns with high feature frequencies overcome chemorepulsive borders to direct neurite growth. J Tissue Eng Regen Med 12:e1392-e1403
Xu, Linjing; Seline, Alison E; Leigh, Braden et al. (2018) Photopolymerized Microfeatures Guide Adult Spiral Ganglion and Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurite Growth. Otol Neurotol 39:119-126
Leigh, Braden L; Truong, Kristy; Bartholomew, Reid et al. (2017) Tuning Surface and Topographical Features to Investigate Competitive Guidance of Spiral Ganglion Neurons. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 9:31488-31496
Leigh, Braden L; Cheng, Elise; Xu, Linjing et al. (2017) Photopolymerizable Zwitterionic Polymer Patterns Control Cell Adhesion and Guide Neural Growth. Biomacromolecules 18:2389-2401
Cheng, Elise L; Leigh, Braden; Guymon, C Allan et al. (2016) Quantifying Spiral Ganglion Neurite and Schwann Behavior on Micropatterned Polymer Substrates. Methods Mol Biol 1427:305-18
Li, Shufeng; Tuft, Bradley; Xu, Linjing et al. (2016) Intracellular calcium and cyclic nucleotide levels modulate neurite guidance by microtopographical substrate features. J Biomed Mater Res A 104:2037-48
Li, Shufeng; Tuft, Bradley W; Xu, Linjing et al. (2015) Microtopographical features generated by photopolymerization recruit RhoA/ROCK through TRPV1 to direct cell and neurite growth. Biomaterials 53:95-106
Kopelovich, Jonathan C; Reiss, Lina A J; Etler, Christine P et al. (2015) Hearing Loss After Activation of Hearing Preservation Cochlear Implants Might Be Related to Afferent Cochlear Innervation Injury. Otol Neurotol 36:1035-44
Tuft, Bradley W; Xu, Linjing; White, Scott P et al. (2014) Neural pathfinding on uni- and multidirectional photopolymerized micropatterns. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 6:11265-76

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