Functional analysis of micropatterned neuronal networks using nano-structured electrodes

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K17449
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Nanobioscience
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Yamamoto Hideaki 東北大学, 学際科学フロンティア研究所, 助教 (10552036)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 神経回路網 / バイオインターフェース / 細胞パターニング / 微小電極アレイ / 細胞シート / 数理モデル / ソフトリソグラフィ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Brain is a complex network of nerve cells. Neuronal culture has played important roles in the study of the nerve cells, but the innate difference in network architecture has hindered the wide-spread use of the culture system in the study of network functions. In the current project, we developed a series of surface engineering technologies to direct the spontaneous network formation by cultured neurons. This was realized at both the single-cellular and multi-cellular levels. We also developed a technology for amplifying weak signals of multi-electrode array recordings, that takes advantage of a cell sheet grown on a free-standing hydrogel membrane.

Free Research Field

ナノバイオサイエンス