Morphology and electrostatics play active role in neuronal differentiation processes on flexible conducting substrates

This commentary discusses and summarizes the key highlights of our recently reported work entitled “Neuronal Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cell Derived Neuronal Progenitors Can Be Regulated by Stretchable Conducting Polymers.” The prospect of controlling the mechanical-rigidity and the surface conductance properties offers a unique combination for tailoring the growth and differentiation of neuronal cells. We emphasize the utility of transparent elastomeric substrates with coatings of electrically conducting polymer to realize the desired substrate-characteristics for cellular development processes. Our study showed that neuronal differentiation from ES cells is highly influenced by the specific substrates on which they are growing. Thus, our results provide a better strategy for regulated neuronal differentiation by using such functional conducting surfaces.