Measuring Electrical Activity of Neurospheres Along Carbon Nanotube Threads

By: Caroline Mayo Mentor: Dr. David Mast

Motivation
250,000 Americans have spinal injuries with an 11,000 new spinal injuries added each year Neurons are electrically excitable cells that are the core to the nervous system Neurons do not regenerate or repair the injury because they grow undirected So what can we do?

Neurons
Neurons have dendrites that extend to other neurons creating the network of the spinal cord.

Neurospheres

A neurosphere is a free-floating structure generated by neuron cells in vitro.

Carbon Nanotube Threads

Nanostructure carbon
Why are CNT threads so suitable for this experiment? Electrically excitable Made in the Engineering Research Center Very strong Neurospheres have already attached to CNT mats and threads.

Do they still behave electrically?

Three research focus areas: In situ measurement of the spontaneous electrical activity produced by neurospheres as the grow along carbon nanotube threads. Direct probing of neurospheres and carbon nanotube threads Using pulse signaling that mimics action potential within cells to directly excite neurospheres and thread to thread stimulation.

Ohms Law

Ohms Law V=IR

Graph of an ohmic system

Procedure
CNT Thread with Neurospheres attached

Slide Design

Results
probe

CNT thread

neurosphere

Resistance of Neurosphere Along Carbon Nanotube thread

0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1

y = 37800x - 0.0003 R = 0.9994

Voltage (V)

0
-0.00001 -0.000005 -0.1 -0.2 -0.3 -0.4 -0.5 0 0.000005 0.00001 0.000015

-0.000015

Current (A)

Pulse Signal from Neurosphere

Conclusion
Do they still behave electrically as they should? YES! Future Research Verify results with more testing Improve slide efficiency Tip insulation using Parylene-C

Acknowledgements
Dr. David Mast Dr. Ghia and the Women in Science and Engineering Program University of Cincinnatis Physics Department for my funding Sarah Pixley, Tracy Hopkins, and the other researchers at the Vontz Center for Molecular Studies and all their help with the neurospheres

WISE Statement and Future Work

Continue working for Dr. Mast in the fall to finish measuring the electrical activity of the neurospheres and carbon nanotube threads Spring-summer co-op as Product Design and Development Engineer Graduate in 2014 with a Bachelors Science in Biomedical Engineering with a Minor in materials Get a Masters in Engineering and work in industry designing the robotics used in surgeries.

Thank you!
Any questions?