EAGER: Integration of Conducting Polymers With Living Cells

PI: Payne, Christine K.提案号：1451903神经科学和神经工程的进步需要新的工具。具体需要的是将电子设备与大脑连接起来的能力。挑战在于将坚硬的金属表面与大脑的软环境相结合。为了解决这个问题，研究人员将追求一个新的方向，使用柔软、柔韧、生物相容的导电聚合物在单个细胞内形成纳米线。这些导电聚合物纳米线将为神经探针、仿生植入物、再生医学和神经系统疾病的治疗提供新的工具。这项研究将解决两个具体目标；在富含蛋白质、高盐的环境中，外来物质在细胞内的传递和电化学聚合。聚（3,4-乙烯二氧噻吩）：聚（苯乙烯磺酸盐）（PEDOT:PSS）将作为具有代表性的导电聚合物。目的1将侧重于利用细胞自身的胞饮机制将单体输送到细胞中。实验将使用PC-12模型神经元。目标2将电化学聚合单体，在细胞内形成纳米线，在外部电极和细胞之间建立联系。每个Aim都伴随着广泛的细胞毒性测定，以确保细胞在此过程中保持健康。除了由混合导电聚合物细胞实现的生物医学应用外，这项研究还将为高中、本科和研究生等不同群体的学生提供工程和生命科学界面的跨学科培训。

PI: Payne, Christine K. Proposal Number: 1451903Advances in neuroscience and neuroengineering require new tools. Of specific need is the ability to interface electrical devices with the brain. The challenge is coupling hard metal surfaces to the soft environment of the brain. To address this problem, the investigators will pursue a novel direction, using soft, flexible, biocompatible conducting polymers to form nanowires within individual cells. These conducting polymer nanowires will provide a new tool for neural probes, bionic implants, regenerative medicine, and the treatment of neurological disorders.This research will address two specific goals; intracellular delivery of a foreign material into cells and electrochemical polymerization in a protein-rich, high salt, environment. Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) will be used as a representative conducting polymer. Aim 1 will focus on delivery of the monomer into the cell using the cell's own pinocytic machinery. Experiments will use PC-12 model neurons. Aim 2 will electrochemically polymerize the monomer to form a nanowire within the cell, establishing contacts between external electrodes and the cell. Each Aim is accompanied by extensive cytotoxicity assays to ensure the cells remain healthy during the process. In addition to the biomedical applications enabled by a hybrid conducting polymer-cell, this research will provide interdisciplinary training at the interface of engineering and life sciences for a diverse group of students at the high school, undergraduate, and graduate level.