Science: microchip ‘talks’ with neurons, search the CNR Bologna.

Bologna, May 6 – A microchip transparent, organic and bio-compatible ( with a low risk of rejection) able to ‘talk’ and interact with the functioning of neurons. An innovation that will be able ‘to lead in the future to’ repair ‘malfunctioning of neurons such as a trauma or Parkinson’s disease. The new platform ‘was created by researchers at the National Research Council in Bologna and it’ was published in the journal “Nature Materials”, one of the most ‘prestigious in the world in the field of science and technology of materials. The starting point and ‘was to identify new techniques, non-invasive, to improve the understanding of the complex processes that regulate the brain. Research has shown that you can ‘stimulate the activity’ neural ‘manipulate’, and consequently read. The instrument, called an electro-stimulator OCST (Organic cell stimulating and sensing transistor) provides a bi-directional stimulation and recording the activity  ‘of neurons. “In practice – says the project coordinator Michele Muccini, head of the CNR-ISMN Bologna – transparent organic electronics can stay for a long time in contact with neurons without them being damaged, being bio-compatible. Transistor and ‘organic, therefore, much more’ palatable of the other materials used up to now such as silicon. ”

In the future, the researchers said, the ability ‘of interaction between nerve cells and the device could have applications for the regeneration of peripheral nervous tissue compromise after traumatic accidents or degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease or in the early detection of epileptic events. Furthermore, the development of this platform, potra ‘bring benefits also chemical-pharmaceutical industry for screening low cost of the effects of chemicals on cells. Along with the National Research Council, the project ‘was made possible thanks to the institutions Ismn (Institute for the study of nanostructured materials) and sof (Institute for organic synthesis and Photoreactivity’) in collaboration with the Italian Institute of Technology (IITs) and Etc , spin-offs and start-up of the CNR group SAES. Over the next three years, the goal of researchers and ‘to explore the use of the microchip not only in vitro (such as e’ been done on animals until today), but also in vivo. The research has benefited from public funding (regional and European) and, in part, also private. (AGI).

Scienza: microchip ‘parla’ con neuroni,  ricerca del Cnr Bologna

  Un domani, spiegano i ricercatori, la capacita’ di interazione tra cellule nervose e dispositivo potrebbe avere applicazioni per la rigenerazione del tessuto nervoso periferico compromesso dopo incidenti traumatici o malattie degenerative come il morbo di Parkinson oppure nella diagnosi precoce di eventi epilettici. Inoltre, lo sviluppo di questa piattaforma, potra’ portare benefici anche all’industria chimico farmaceutica per lo screening a basso costo degli effetti di sostanze chimiche sulle cellule. Insieme al Cnr, il progetto e’ stato realizzato grazie agli istituti Ismn (Istituto per lo studio dei materiali nanostrutturati) e Isof (Istituto per la sintesi organica e la fotoreattivita’) con la collaborazione dell’Istituto italiano di tecnologia (Iit) ed E.t.c., spin off del Cnr e start up del gruppo Saes. Nei prossimi tre anni, l’obiettivo dei ricercatori e’ di sperimentare l’utilizzo del microchip non solo in vitro (come e’ stato fatto sugli animali fino ad oggi) ma anche in vivo. La ricerca ha beneficiato di finanziamenti pubblici (europei e regionali) ed, in parte, anche privati. (AGI) .