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SUMMARY:Compact self-wired cultured neural networks - Dr Yael Hanein\, Sch
 ool of Electrical Engineering\; Physical Electronics\, Tel-Aviv University
DTSTART:20061020T131500Z
DTEND:20061020T141500Z
UID:TALK5203@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Dr Kalin Dragnevski
DESCRIPTION:Interfacing biological systems with artificial substrates is o
 f great importance for various applications such as bio-sensing and the in
 vestigation of cultured neuronal networks. Accordingly\, many methods were
  developed to control and to study the interaction between cells and surfa
 ces. Vast majority of these approaches consist of chemical modification. A
  newly proposed approach to form a controlled interface consists of surfac
 e texture at the scale of several nanometers to micrometers. Such surfaces
  affect the attachment of certain cells to the surface and can be used as 
 a mechanism to position cells at particular areas on a substrate. Clearly\
 , the recent advances in nanotechnology offer a unique opportunity to seek
  nano-topographical surfaces that may allow exciting advantages over exist
 ing technologies such as simplified fabrication processes and improved bio
 compatibility. These surfaces are studied by various groups with the aim t
 o expand contemporary tools beyond the conventional semi-conductor micro-f
 abrication technology.  \n\nIn the past several years we have developed a 
 new method for neuronal cell patterning using nano topography realized by 
 islands of high density fabrics made of carbon nanotubes (CNT). Carbon nan
 otube coated surfaces are biocompatible\, and are excellent surfaces for c
 ell growth and thus are excellent candidates to be used to interface man-m
 ade substrates with biological systems. Photo-lithography and carbon nanot
 ube chemical vapor deposition techniques were used to realize carbon nanot
 ube based electrodes with excellent recording capabilities. Neurons self-o
 rganize on these lithographically defined templates to form interconnected
  networks with pre-designed geometry and graph connectivity. Our novel app
 roach enables to precisely engineer the geometry as well as the connectivi
 ty properties of real neural networks\, thus paves the way for a wide vari
 ety of composite bio-networks. \n\n\n1.Tamir Gabay\, Eyal Jakobs\, Eshel B
 en-Jacob\, and Yael Hanein\, Engineered self-organization of neural networ
 ks using CNT clusters\, Physica A\, 350\, pp 611-621\, 2005.\n\n2.R. Sorki
 n\, T. Gabay\, P. Blinder\, D. Baranes\, E. Ben-Jacob and  Y. Hanein\, Com
 pact self-wiring in cultured neural networks\, Journal of neural engineeri
 ng\, 3\, pp 1-7\, 2006.\n\n
LOCATION:IRC in Superconductivity Seminar Room\, Cavendish Laboratory
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