Nanostructures to Engineer 3D Neural‐Interfaces: Directing Axonal Navigation toward Successful Bridging of Spinal Segments

Abstract

Neural interfaces are at the core of prosthetic devices, such as implantable stimulating electrodes or brain machine interfaces, and are increasingly designed for assisting rehabilitation and for promoting neural plasticity. Thus, beyond the classical neuro-prosthetic concept of stimulating and/or recording devices, modern technology is pursuing towards ideal bio/electrode interfaces with improved adaptability to the brain tissue. Advances in materials research are crucial in these efforts and new developments are drawing from engineering and neural interface technologies. We exploit here a micro-porous, self-standing, three-dimensional (3D) interface made by polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) implemented at the interfacing surfaces with novel conductive nano-topographies (carbon nanotubes) with which cells can actively interact. We characterize the porosity of the elastomeric scaffolds by threedimensional X-ray micro-tomography reconstructions. We use these structures to interface axons regenerated from cultured spinal cord explants and we show that engineering PDMS 3D interfaces with carbon nanotubes effectively changes the efficacy of regenerating fibers to target and re-connect segregated explant pairs. We

Conductive Scaffolds for Cardiac and Neuronal Tissue Engineering: Governing Factors and Mechanisms

“…Moving beyond the peripheral nervous system, Aurand et al added CNTs to a microporous polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Regenerative properties of the scaffold were examined by seeding spatially disparate pairs of rat spinal cord explants onto the scaffold.…”

Putting Rings around Carbon Nanotubes

“…[18] For example, Prato, Ballerini and co-workers are closer and closert oh ealing spinal cord injuries using implants in which polymer-CNTcomposites serve as scaffolds to reconnect spinal tissue. [19] Meanwhile, Shulaker et al have fabricated aw orking computer based entirely on CNT transistors, [20] and Arnold and co-workers have proven that SWNTs can indeed outperform silicon as semiconducting material in field effect transistors (FET). [21] So CNTsare far from scientifically dead.…”

Nanomaterials in Superlubricity

“…A good design for the materials with 3D nanostructures is becoming increasingly important given the need for advanced functional applications in biomedical engineering, water transport, energy conversion and storage, molecular separation, sensors, and nanoreactors, in which an efficient friction reduction is critical for operational stability and reliability . This section focuses on the examples of 3D nanomaterials with well‐controlled architectures and their resultant superlubricity.…”