Fabrication and evaluation of artificial neuronal networks on semiconductor surfaces

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25600071
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Applied materials
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: NIWANO Michio 東北大学, 電気通信研究所, 教授 (20134075)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): HIRANO Ayumi (IWATA Ayumi) 東北大学, 医工学研究科, 准教授 (80339241) ; KIMURA Yasuo 東京工科大学, コンピュータサイエンス学部, 教授 (40312673) ; 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): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: ニューロエレクトロニクス / 信号伝達 / 培養神経細胞 / 神経回路 / シナプス / タンパク質 / マイクロパターニング / 表面改質

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Human brain is a complex, hierarchical system comprised of 10 billion neurons. By engineering a simple neuronal network in vitro that mimics the in vivo architecture and functions, a novel system for studying of the dynamical properties of the neuronal networks in the brain will become available.
In the current project, we developed a series of surface micromodification techniques for fabricating "template" surfaces for neuronal cell patterning. We then evaluated the spontaneous activity of the micropatterned neuronal networks via fluorescent calcium imaging. A simulation model of neuronal networks based on a biophysical model was also developed to theoretically investigate activity modulation in micropatterned networks.

Free Research Field

バイオエレクトロニクス