Cheran Larisa-Emilia, Benvenuto Pasquale, Thompson Michael
Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Chem Soc Rev. 2008 Jun;37(6):1229-42. doi: 10.1039/b712830b. Epub 2008 Mar 26.
The in vitro detection of the neural biophysical chemistry of populations of neurons is an important emerging area of research. This critical review describes the current methodologies, challenges and future prospects for this exciting field of research. There are different classes of techniques for the study of neuron-based systems. These include devices to measure inter-neuron contact and connectivity, microelectrodes for the determination of extracellular metabolic products, and sensors employed for the evaluation of complex neuron-small molecule interactions, toxicity, and mutagenicity of anti-tumor drugs. Since the neuron is an electrogenic cell and a complex biological entity capable of effecting recognition, the main emphasis of this article will be placed on devices based on nerve-cell networks that are able to electrically detect neuron-active compounds and specific pharmacological activity. Such neuron-based devices can be used to measure numerous neurological events with a high degree of sensitivity. Examples include the influence of different neuro-active compounds on neuronal function, the effects of neurotransmitters and neuro-modulators, changes in membrane potential, transmission effects that influence the propagation of the action potential, and the manner through which neuro-chemicals can influence ion channels. Moreover, these devices posses promising potential for the testing and development of novel neuron-active drugs and fundamental neurological research to further the understanding of brain activity. The inner workings of the human mind remain largely unknown and the key to comprehending it may rely on how molecules can initiate and influence synchronous neural oscillations, and the phenomenon of resonance in neural cells. The knowledge acquired in such detailed investigations can lead to the future development of regenerative medicines, neurochips and biocomputers, intelligent prosthetic devices and new applications that integrate neurobiology with molecular electronics (69 references).
神经元群体神经生物物理化学的体外检测是一个重要的新兴研究领域。这篇批判性综述描述了这个令人兴奋的研究领域的当前方法、挑战和未来前景。有不同类别的技术用于研究基于神经元的系统。这些技术包括测量神经元间接触和连接性的设备、用于测定细胞外代谢产物的微电极，以及用于评估复杂的神经元 - 小分子相互作用、抗肿瘤药物的毒性和致突变性的传感器。由于神经元是一个产电细胞，并且是一个能够实现识别功能的复杂生物实体，本文将主要重点放在基于能够电检测神经元活性化合物和特定药理活性的神经细胞网络的设备上。这种基于神经元的设备可用于高度灵敏地测量众多神经学事件。例如，不同神经活性化合物对神经元功能的影响、神经递质和神经调节剂的作用、膜电位的变化、影响动作电位传播的传递效应，以及神经化学物质影响离子通道的方式。此外，这些设备在新型神经元活性药物的测试与开发以及基础神经学研究方面具有广阔的潜力，有助于进一步理解大脑活动。人类思维内部的运作机制在很大程度上仍然未知，理解它的关键可能在于分子如何引发和影响同步神经振荡以及神经细胞中的共振现象。在这些详细研究中获得的知识能够引领再生医学、神经芯片和生物计算机、智能假肢设备以及将神经生物学与分子电子学相结合的新应用（69篇参考文献）的未来发展。
