In Vitro Developmental Acceleration of Hippocampal Neurons on Nanostructures of Self‐Assembled Silica Beads in Filopodium‐Size Ranges

Something to sprout about: The developmental acceleration of hippocampal neurons occurred on well-packed structures of silica beads with diameters over 200 nm (see picture; scale bar: 5 μm, inset scale bar: 1 μm). The neurons sensed the size differences of the nanostructures and altered their behaviors, thus implying that nanotopographical stimuli are one of the important features for guiding neurites during neural developments in vivo.