• COC
• TIRF microscophy

The interaction between differentiating neurons and the extracellular environment guides the establishment of cell polarity during nervous system development. The developing neurons read the physical properties of the local substrate in a contact-dependent manner and retrieve essential guidance cues. I engineered biocompatible nanostructured substrates designed for high-resolution live-cell microscopy by exploiting nanoimprint lithography techniques and cyclic olefin copolymers in order to unravel the mechanisms by which differentiating neurons read the local topography. Neuronal contact guidance, establishment of polarity, focal adhesion maturation, and active remodelling in differentiating PC12 cells sensing nanotopographies will be analysed and discussed. In particular, for the first time the role of topographic noise in neurite contact guidance will be addressed.