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The Journal of Neuroscience, June 27, 2007, 27(26):6931-6936; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1051-07.2007

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Brief Communications
Interfacing Neurons with Carbon Nanotubes: Electrical Signal Transfer and Synaptic Stimulation in Cultured Brain Circuits

Andrea Mazzatenta,^1 * Michele Giugliano,^3 * Stephane Campidelli,² Luca Gambazzi,³ Luca Businaro,⁴ Henry Markram,³ Maurizio Prato,² and Laura Ballerini¹

¹Physiology and Pathology Department, B.R.A.I.N., University of Trieste, I-34127, Trieste, Italy, ²Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, I-34127, Trieste, Italy, ³Laboratory of Neural Microcircuitry, Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Station 15CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland, and ⁴LILIT BeamLine, TASC-INFM National Laboratory, Area Science Park, I-34012, Basovizza, Trieste, Italy

Correspondence should be addressed to either of the following: Dr. Laura Ballerini, Physiology and Pathology Department, Center for Neuroscience, B.R.A.I.N., University of Trieste, via Fleming 22, 34127, Trieste, Italy, Email: ballerin{at}psico.units.it; or Maurizio Prato, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Piazzale Europa 1, I-34127, Trieste, Italy, Email: prato{at}units.it

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.

Key words: nanotechnology; hippocampal neurons; neuronal stimulation; voltage clamp; biophysical modeling; seal resistance

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Received March 8, 2007; revised May 15, 2007; accepted May 15, 2007.

Correspondence should be addressed to either of the following: Dr. Laura Ballerini, Physiology and Pathology Department, Center for Neuroscience, B.R.A.I.N., University of Trieste, via Fleming 22, 34127, Trieste, Italy, Email: ballerin{at}psico.units.it; or Maurizio Prato, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Piazzale Europa 1, I-34127, Trieste, Italy, Email: prato{at}units.it

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