Article abstract
Nature Nanotechnology 4, 126 - 133 (2008)
Published online: 21 December 2008 | doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.374
Subject Categories: Carbon nanotubes and fullerenes | Nanomedicine
Carbon nanotubes might improve neuronal performance by favouring electrical shortcuts
Giada Cellot1, Emanuele Cilia1,8, Sara Cipollone2, Vladimir Rancic1, Antonella Sucapane1, Silvia Giordani2,8, Luca Gambazzi3, Henry Markram3, Micaela Grandolfo4, Denis Scaini5, Fabrizio Gelain6, Loredana Casalis5, Maurizio Prato2, Michele Giugliano3,7,9 & Laura Ballerini1,9
Abstract
Carbon nanotubes have been applied in several areas of nerve tissue engineering to probe and augment cell behaviour, to label and track subcellular components, and to study the growth and organization of neural networks. Recent reports show that nanotubes can sustain and promote neuronal electrical activity in networks of cultured cells, but the ways in which they affect cellular function are still poorly understood. Here, we show, using single-cell electrophysiology techniques, electron microscopy analysis and theoretical modelling, that nanotubes improve the responsiveness of neurons by forming tight contacts with the cell membranes that might favour electrical shortcuts between the proximal and distal compartments of the neuron. We propose the 'electrotonic hypothesis' to explain the physical interactions between the cell and nanotube, and the mechanisms of how carbon nanotubes might affect the collective electrical activity of cultured neuronal networks. These considerations offer a perspective that would allow us to predict or engineer interactions between neurons and carbon nanotubes.
- Life Science Department, B.R.A.I.N., University of Trieste, via Fleming 22, I-34127, Trieste, Italy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Piazzale Europa 1, I-34127, Trieste, Italy
- Laboratory of Neural Microcircuitry, Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Station 15, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Neurobiology Sector, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), via Beirut 2–4, 34014 Trieste, Italy
- ELETTRA Sincrotrone Trieste Strada Statale 14, Basovizza, Trieste, Italy
- Biosciences and Biotechnology Department, University of Milan-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
- Present address: Department of Biomedical Science, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium (E.C.); School of Chemistry, Trinity College, Dublin College Green, Dublin 2, Ireland (S.G.)
- These authors contributed equally to this work
Correspondence to: Laura Ballerini1,9 e-mail: ballerin@psico.units.it
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