title: A Nanoscale Interface Promoting Molecular and Functional Differentiation of Neural Cells.
abstract: Potassium channels and aquaporins expressed by astrocytes are key players in the maintenance of cerebral homeostasis and in brain pathophysiologies. One major challenge in the study of astrocyte membrane channels in vitro, is that their expression pattern does not resemble the one observed in vivo. Nanostructured interfaces represent a significant resource to control the cellular behaviour and functionalities at micro and nanoscale as well as to generate novel and more reliable models to study astrocytes in vitro. However, the potential of nanotechnologies in the manipulation of astrocytes ion channels and aquaporins has never been previously reported. Hydrotalcite-like compounds (HTlc) are layered materials with increasing potential as biocompatible nanoscale interface. Here, we evaluate the effect of the interaction of HTlc nanoparticles films with primary rat neocortical astrocytes. We show that HTlc films are biocompatible and do not promote gliotic reaction, while favouring astrocytes differentiation by induction of F-actin fibre alignment and vinculin polarization. Western Blot, Immunofluorescence and patch-clamp revealed that differentiation was accompanied by molecular and functional up-regulation of both inward rectifying potassium channel Kir 4.1 and aquaporin 4, AQP4. The reported results pave the way to engineering novel in vitro models to study astrocytes in a in vivo like condition.
authors: Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Istituto per lo Sintesi Organica e la Fotoreattività (ISOF), via Gobetti, 101, 40129, Bologna, Italy.
authors: Tamara
authors: T
authors: Posati
authors: Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Istituto per lo Studio dei Materiali Nanostrutturati (ISMN), via Gobetti, 101, 40129, Bologna, Italy.
authors: Assunta
authors: A
authors: Pistone
authors: Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Istituto per lo Studio dei Materiali Nanostrutturati (ISMN), via Gobetti, 101, 40129, Bologna, Italy.
authors: Emanuela
authors: E
authors: Saracino
authors: Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Istituto per lo Studio dei Materiali Nanostrutturati (ISMN), via Gobetti, 101, 40129, Bologna, Italy.
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Formaggio
authors: Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Biotecnologie e Biofarmaceutica, Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro", Via Amendola 165/A, 70126, Bari, Italy.
authors: Maria Grazia
authors: MG
authors: Mola
authors: Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Istituto per lo Sintesi Organica e la Fotoreattività (ISOF), via Gobetti, 101, 40129, Bologna, Italy.
authors: Elisabetta
authors: E
authors: Troni
authors: Laboratorio di Micro e Submicro Tecnologie abilitanti dell'Emilia-Romagna (MIST E-R), Via P. Gobetti 101, I-40129 Bologna, Italy.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Sagnella
authors: Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, University of Perugia, Via del Liceo 1, 06123, Perugia, Italy.
authors: Morena
authors: M
authors: Nocchetti
authors: Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Istituto per lo Studio dei Materiali Nanostrutturati (ISMN), via Gobetti, 101, 40129, Bologna, Italy.
authors: Marianna
authors: M
authors: Barbalinardo
authors: Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Istituto per lo Studio dei Materiali Nanostrutturati (ISMN), via Gobetti, 101, 40129, Bologna, Italy.
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Valle
authors: Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Istituto per lo Studio dei Materiali Nanostrutturati (ISMN), via Gobetti, 101, 40129, Bologna, Italy.
authors: Simone
authors: S
authors: Bonetti
authors: Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, via S. Donato 19/2, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy.
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Caprini
authors: Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Biotecnologie e Biofarmaceutica, Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro", Via Amendola 165/A, 70126, Bari, Italy.
authors: Grazia Paola
authors: GP
authors: Nicchia
authors: Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Istituto per lo Sintesi Organica e la Fotoreattività (ISOF), via Gobetti, 101, 40129, Bologna, Italy.
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Zamboni
authors: Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Istituto per lo Studio dei Materiali Nanostrutturati (ISMN), via Gobetti, 101, 40129, Bologna, Italy.
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Muccini
authors: Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Istituto per lo Sintesi Organica e la Fotoreattività (ISOF), via Gobetti, 101, 40129, Bologna, Italy.
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Benfenati
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D051401:Aquaporin 4 / Q000378:metabolism; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D005911:Gliosis / Q000378:metabolism; D008276:Magnesium Hydroxide / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D049329:Nanostructures; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D024661:Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D016596:Vinculin / Q000378:metabolism; D000098854:Kcnj10 Channel
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; C496032:Aqp4 protein, rat; D051401:Aquaporin 4; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D000098854:Kcnj10 Channel; D024661:Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying; D016596:Vinculin; C010467:hydrotalcite; D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide; D008276:Magnesium Hydroxide