title: 3D meshes of carbon nanotubes guide functional reconnection of segregated spinal explants.
abstract: In modern neuroscience, significant progress in developing structural scaffolds integrated with the brain is provided by the increasing use of nanomaterials. We show that a multiwalled carbon nanotube self-standing framework, consisting of a three-dimensional (3D) mesh of interconnected, conductive, pure carbon nanotubes, can guide the formation of neural webs in vitro where the spontaneous regrowth of neurite bundles is molded into a dense random net. This morphology of the fiber regrowth shaped by the 3D structure supports the successful reconnection of segregated spinal cord segments. We further observed in vivo the adaptability of these 3D devices in a healthy physiological environment. Our study shows that 3D artificial scaffolds may drive local rewiring in vitro and hold great potential for the development of future in vivo interfaces.
authors.affiliation: International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), Trieste 34136, Italy.
authors.forename: Sadaf
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9446-0512
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Usmani
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste 34127, Italy.
authors.forename: Emily Rose
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Aurand
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste 34127, Italy.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Medelin
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste 34127, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fabbro
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste 34127, Italy.; NanoInnovation Laboratory, ELETTRA Synchrotron Light Source, Trieste 34149, Italy.
authors.forename: Denis
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8398-8074
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Scaini
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste 34127, Italy.
authors.forename: Jummi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Laishram
authors.affiliation: International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), Trieste 34136, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica B
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8233-0550
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Rosselli
authors.affiliation: International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), Trieste 34136, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ansuini
authors.affiliation: International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), Trieste 34136, Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7221-4188
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zoccolan
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome 00173, Italy.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5611-0319
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scarselli
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome 00173, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2935-8714
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Crescenzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste 34127, Italy.
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bosi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste 34127, Italy.; Carbon Nanobiotechnology Laboratory, CIC biomaGUNE, Paseo de Miramón 182, 20009 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.; Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, 48013 Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8869-8612
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prato
authors.affiliation: International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), Trieste 34136, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8420-0787
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ballerini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D055724:Electrophysiological Phenomena; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation*; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon
keywords: Nanomaterials; carbon nanotubes; microscopy; organotypic cultures; spinal cord