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Axon diodes for the reconstruction of oriented neuronal networks in microfluidic chambers
Peyrin JM, Deleglise B, Saias L, Vignes M, Gougis P, Magnifico S, Betuing S, Pietri M et al.. Lab on a chip, 2011-09-15
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Various experimental models are used to study brain development and degeneration. They range from whole animal models, which preserve anatomical structures but strongly limit investigations at the cellular level, to dissociated cell culture systems that allow detailed observation of cell phenotypes but lack the highly ordered physiological neuron connection architecture. We describe here a platform comprising independent cell culture chambers separated by an array of "axonal diodes". This array involves asymmetric micro-channels, imposing unidirectional axon connectivity with 97% selectivity. It allows the construction of complex, oriented neuronal networks not feasible with earlier platforms. Different neuronal subtypes could be co-cultivated for weeks, and sequential seeding of different cell populations reproduced physiological network development. To illustrate possible applications, we created and characterized a cortico-striatal oriented network. Functional synaptic connections were established. The activation of striatal differentiation by cortical axons, and the synchronization of neural activity were demonstrated. Each neuronal population and subcompartment could be chemically addressed individually. The directionality of neural pathways being a key feature of the nervous system organization, the axon diode concept brings in a paradigmatic change in neuronal culture platforms, with potential applications for studying neuronal development, synaptic transmission and neurodegenerative disorder such as Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases at the sub-cellular, cellular and network levels.
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APA 7th
Peyrin, J. M., Deleglise, B., Saias, L., Vignes, M., Gougis, P., Magnifico, S., et al. (2011). Axon diodes for the reconstruction of oriented neuronal networks in microfluidic chambers. Lab on a chip. https://doi.org/10.1039/c1lc20014c
Vancouver
Peyrin JM, Deleglise B, Saias L, Vignes M, Gougis P, Magnifico S, et al. Axon diodes for the reconstruction of oriented neuronal networks in microfluidic chambers. Lab on a chip. 2011. doi:10.1039/c1lc20014c. PMID: 21922081.
BibTeX
@article{peyrin2011-21922081,
author = {Peyrin, J. M. and Deleglise, B. and Saias, L. and Vignes, M. and Gougis, P. and Magnifico, S. and Betuing, S. and Pietri, M. and others},
title = {{Axon diodes for the reconstruction of oriented neuronal networks in microfluidic chambers}},
journal = {Lab on a chip},
year = {2011},
doi = {10.1039/c1lc20014c},
pmid = {21922081},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1039/c1lc20014c}
}
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Key findings
- The activation of striatal differentiation by cortical axons, and the synchronization of neural activity were demonstrated.
Why it matters
This describes a laboratory microfluidic platform using asymmetric micro-channels to build oriented neuronal networks, including a cortico-striatal network with functional synapses. It is a cell-culture method with no direct testing in Alzheimer disease and no treatment implications.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 45/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Lab on a chip) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Lab on a Chip: journal h-index 281 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2011 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 279 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 16.4 citations a year over 17 year(s) since 2011 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 4.8× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 51 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Bernard Brugg: h-index 31 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique: institution h-index 2,511 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 21922081) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 45 / 100 | — |
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