TEGylated Double-Walled Carbon Nanotubes as Platforms to Engineer Neuronal Networks.

In the past two decades, important results have been obtained on the application of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as components of smart interfaces promoting neuronal growth and differentiation. Different forms of CNTs have been employed as scaffolds, including raw CNTs and functionalized CNTs, characterized by a different number of walls, mainly single-walled CNTs (SWCNTs) or multiwalled CNTs (MWCNTs). However, double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs), which present interesting electronic and transport properties, have barely been studied in the field.

Bidirectional Modulation of Neuronal Cells Electrical and Mechanical Properties Through Pristine and Functionalized Graphene Substrates.

In recent years, the quest for surface modifications to promote neuronal cell interfacing and modulation has risen. This course is justified by the requirements of emerging technological and medical approaches attempting to effectively interact with central nervous system cells, as in the case of brain-machine interfaces or neuroprosthetic. In that regard, the remarkable cytocompatibility and ease of chemical functionalization characterizing surface-immobilized graphene-based nanomaterials (GBNs) make them increasingly appealing for these purposes.

A 3D‑scaffold of PLLA induces the morphological differentiation and migration of primary astrocytes and promotes the production of extracellular vesicles.

The present study analyzed the ability of primary rat astrocytes to colonize a porous scaffold, mimicking the reticular structure of the brain parenchyma extracellular matrix, as well as their ability to grow, survive and differentiate on the scaffold. Scaffolds were prepared using poly‑L‑lactic acid (PLLA) via thermally‑induced phase separation. Firstly, the present study studied the effects of scaffold morphology on the growth of astrocytes, evaluating their capability to colonize.