Sucapane Antonietta, Cellot Giada, Prato Maurizio, Giugliano Michele, Parpura Vladimir, Ballerini Laura
Physiology and Pathology Department, B.R.A.I.N., University of Trieste, via Fleming 22, I-34127, Trieste, Italy.
J Nanoneurosci. 2009 Jun 1;1(1):10-16. doi: 10.1166/jns.2009.002.
Carbon nanotubes, owing to their electrical, chemical, mechanical, and thermal properties, are one of the most promising nanomaterials for the electronics, computer, and aerospace industries. More recently, these unique materials are finding their niche in neuroscience. Here, we discuss the use of carbon nanotubes as scaffolds for neuronal growth. The chemical properties of carbon nanotubes can be systematically varied by attaching different functional groups. Such functionalized carbon nanotubes can be used to control the outgrowth and branching pattern of neuronal processes. We also discuss electrical interactions between neurons and carbon nanotubes. The electrical properties of nanotubes can provide a mechanism to monitor or stimulate neurons through the scaffold itself. The ease of which carbon nanotubes can be patterned makes them attractive for studying the organization of neural networks and has the potential to develop new devices for neural prosthesis. We note that additional toxicity studies of carbon nanotubes are necessary so that exposure guidelines and safety regulations can be set.
由于其电学、化学、机械和热学性质，碳纳米管是电子、计算机和航空航天工业中最有前途的纳米材料之一。最近，这些独特的材料在神经科学领域找到了用武之地。在这里，我们讨论碳纳米管作为神经元生长支架的用途。通过连接不同的官能团，碳纳米管的化学性质可以系统地改变。这种功能化的碳纳米管可用于控制神经元突起的生长和分支模式。我们还讨论了神经元与碳纳米管之间的电相互作用。纳米管的电学性质可以提供一种通过支架本身监测或刺激神经元的机制。碳纳米管易于图案化，这使其在研究神经网络的组织方面具有吸引力，并且有潜力开发用于神经假体的新设备。我们指出，有必要对碳纳米管进行额外的毒性研究，以便制定接触指南和安全法规。
