Nanotechnology tools for chip-based communication with cells

本提案的目的是研究用于与小区和蜂窝网络通信的新型基于芯片的接口。设想的接口将依赖于尖端的纳米制造技术，这将为神经生物混合系统的开发增添新的维度。具体来说，我将采用nanofluidic氧化还原循环传感器的电化学检测神经网络中的单个细胞的neu重传释放。这种新型传感器可以选择性地将氧化还原活性分子的信号提高几个数量级，并将以前所未有的灵敏度记录neu重传物质的释放。总体目标是研究集成的芯片系统，其中网络中的单个细胞可以通过纳米流体和图案化的电子接口进行寻址。这种集成系统的发展是一个迷人的跨学科的挑战，并提供了巨大的潜力，为基础研究和应用。这将是一个强有力的工具，在重构细胞网络的信息处理现象的调查。基于化学和电刺激，可以研究神经元突触强度和神经递质释放的调制以阐明突触可塑性的作用。新型细胞界面的研究对于基于细胞的生物传感器在药物筛选应用中也很重要，并且对于未来神经假体装置的开发也将是有用的。

The objective of this proposal is to investigate novel chip-based interfaces for communication with cells and cellular networks. The envisaged interfaces will rely on cutting-edge nanofabrication technology that will add a new dimension to the development of neural biohybrid systems. Specifically, I will employ nanofluidic redox cycling sensors for the electrochemical detection of neu retransmitter release from individual cells in a neural network. This new type of sensor can selectively boost the signal of redox-active molecules by orders of magnitude and will allow the recording of neu retransmitter release with unprecedented sensitivity. The overall aim is to study integrated on-chip systems, in which individual cells in a network can be addressed via nanofluidic and patterned electronic interfaces. Development of such integrated systems is a fascinating interdisciplinary challenge and offers great potential for both fundamental research and applications. It will be a powerful tool for the investigation of information processing phenomena in reconstructed cellular networks. Modulation of neuronal synaptic strength and neurotransmitter release, based on chemical and electrical stimulation, can be studied to elucidate effects of synaptic plasticity. The investigation of novel cell interfaces is also important for cell-based biosensors in drug screening applications and will be useful for the development of future neuroprosthetic devices.