Nanotechnology tools for chip-based communication with cells

这项提议的目标是研究用于与细胞和蜂窝网络通信的新型芯片接口。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发展增加一个新的维度。具体地说，我将使用纳米流体氧化还原循环传感器来电化学检测神经网络中单个细胞的neu转发器释放。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转发器的释放。总体目标是研究集成片上系统，在该系统中，网络中的单个单元可以通过纳米流体和图案化电子接口进行寻址。这种集成系统的开发是一项引人入胜的跨学科挑战，为基础研究和应用提供了巨大的潜力。它将成为研究重建蜂窝网络中信息处理现象的有力工具。基于化学和电刺激对神经元突触强度和神经递质释放的调节可以用来阐明突触可塑性的影响。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中的应用也是重要的，并将有助于未来神经假体设备的发展。

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.