title: Interfacing neurons with carbon nanotubes: electrical signal transfer and synaptic stimulation in cultured brain circuits.
abstract: The unique properties of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and the application of nanotechnology to the nervous system may have a tremendous impact in the future developments of microsystems for neural prosthetics as well as immediate benefits for basic research. Despite increasing interest in neuroscience nanotechnologies, little is known about the electrical interactions between nanomaterials and neurons. We developed an integrated SWNT-neuron system to test whether electrical stimulation delivered via SWNT can induce neuronal signaling. To that aim, hippocampal cells were grown on pure SWNT substrates and patch clamped. We compared neuronal responses to voltage steps delivered either via conductive SWNT substrates or via the patch pipette. Our experimental results, supported by mathematical models to describe the electrical interactions occurring in SWNT-neuron hybrid systems, clearly indicate that SWNTs can directly stimulate brain circuit activity.
authors.affiliation: Physiology and Pathology Department, B.R.A.I.N., University of Trieste, I-34127, Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazzatenta
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giugliano
authors.forename: Stephane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Campidelli
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gambazzi
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Businaro
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Markram
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prato
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ballerini
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008959:Models, Neurological; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000639:trends*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon