title: Carbon nanotube substrates boost neuronal electrical signaling.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Piazzale Europa 1, Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lovat
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pantarotto
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lagostena
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cacciari
authors.forename: Micaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grandolfo
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Righi
authors.forename: Giampiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spalluto
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prato
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ballerini
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon