Ultrathin Coatings with Change in Reactivity over Time Enable Functional In Vitro Networks Of Insect Neurons.

It's just not cricket! A novel coating system that enables covalent attachment of biomolecules in a nonfouling environment without use of additional chemical crosslinkers is presented. Concanavalin A is patterned on the coatings to direct cell adhesion and growth of neurons from the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus and generate functional, patterned in vitro insect neuronal networks for the first time.