Carbon nanotube substrates boost neuronal electrical signaling.
We demonstrate the possibility of using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as potential devices able to improve neural signal transfer while supporting dendrite elongation and cell adhesion. The results strongly suggest that the growth of neuronal circuits on a CNT grid is accompanied by a significant increase in network activity. The increase in the efficacy of neural signal transmission may be related to the specific properties of CNT materials, such as the high electrical conductivity.
Lovat
Viviana
V
Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Piazzale Europa 1, Trieste, Italy.
Pantarotto
Davide
D
Lagostena
Laura
L
Cacciari
Barbara
B
Grandolfo
Micaela
M
Righi
Massimo
M
Spalluto
Giampiero
G
Prato
Maurizio
M
Ballerini
Laura
L
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002470:Cell Survival; D003460:Crystallization; D003712:Dendrites / Q000378:metabolism; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D004581:Electronics; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008956:Models, Chemical; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013997:Time Factors
D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon