Carlos Ariza

To successfully apply stem cells therapeutically to treat nervous system injuries and neurodegenerative diseases, control of stem cell growth and differentiation is necessary. Individual cues present in vivo which contribute to changes in stem cell behavior are best discovered and studied in vitro. We have designed and fabricated a microelectrode device to combine electrical cues with chemical, physical and biological cues and investigate the effect of these cues on neural stem cells (NSC) derived from the hippocampus of adult rats. The device allows for selective stimulation and impulse recording of individual cells present in microgrooves that physically confine the cells. We are also studying the effect of electrical stimulation on a larger population of NSC. NSC are exposed to an electric field by establishing two oppositely charged poles in the media (where the cells are maintained) using an electrochemical setup. The effect of neural stem cell growth and differentiation in response to the combination of electrical and topographical/chemical cues is being investigated with these methods.