Developing an Electrochemical Assay to Detect Nerve Regeneration in 3D Scaffolds

描述（由申请人提供）：本提案的研究目的是开发一种方法来检测再生神经元在再生到目标组织之前是否进行适当的通信。目前，体内神经再生的成功与否是通过神经传导速度和肌肉收缩来评估的。目前可用方法的主要缺点是靶组织的完全再连接或最终神经再生必须发生才能进行测试。所提出的技术将利用多学科的方法来检测突触信号，作为在再生初始阶段正常神经生长的衡量标准，而不是等到神经重新连接并支配目标组织。实现这一目标的目的是：(i)表征在二维表面或三维支架内再生的神经元的突触信号，并用x-y多通道交叉指阵探测器检测，以及（ii）设计一个三维（x-y-z）交叉指阵探测器来测量临床相关3D支架材料中再生神经元的突触信号。该项目的长期成果有可能满足全球对一种实用且廉价的方法来快速评估神经再生功效的需求。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The research objective of this proposal is to develop a method to detect whether regenerating neurons are communicating appropriately before they regrow to their target tissues. Currently, successful regeneration of nerves in vivo is evaluated by nerve conduction velocity and muscle contraction. The major drawback to currently available methods is that either complete reconnectivity or final reinnervation of target tissues must occur for testing to be possible. The proposed technique will utilize a multi-disciplinary approach to detect synaptic signals as a measure of proper nerve growth in the initial stages of regeneration, rather than waiting until the nerve has reconnected and innervated target tissues. The aims to accomplish this objective are (i) to characterize synaptic signals from neurons regrowing on a 2 dimensional surface, or within a 3 dimensional scaffold, and detected with an x-y multi-channel interdigitated array detector, and (ii) to design a 3 dimensional (x-y-z) interdigitated array detector to measure synaptic signals from regrowing neurons within clinically relevant 3D scaffold materials. The long-term outcome of this project has the potential to meet the global need for a practical and inexpensive method to rapidly assess the efficacy of nerve regeneration.