NanoInnovationLAB Highlights
Nanotechnology tools for electrophysiology
 We developed a new generation of Carbon Endowed Electrodes (CEEs) for neuronal applications characterized by the presence of carbon in the form of conductive and biocompatible material. Nanoelectrodes that closely mimic the natural tissue microenvironment with its complex chemical and physical cues are essential for improving the quality and reliability of measurements, especially those performed on biological samples, as electroactive cells like neurons and cardiocytes.
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The main electrode geometry we designed with purposes ranging from cell electrophysiology studies to electrochemical analysis is the Hybrid Glass/Carbon NanoPipette (GCNP). These electrodes are constituted by a thermally pulled glass nanopipette, characterized by a final inner diameter of less than 50 nm, internally covered by a layer of conductive amorphous carbon growth via chemical vapour deposition (CVD). The combination of the extraordinary mechanical properties of carbon and the possibility to measure currents and potentials using an hollow electrode makes the device the ideal tool to perform high spatial resolution electrophysiological measurements on nervous and cardiac cells. Moreover it allows, at the same time, to inject chemicals into the cell body to monitor endogenous cellular response. The device will also represent the starting point of a new concept biosensor for single-cell proteomic after antibody functionalization of the internal layer of carbon. |
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Carbon nanotubes might improve neuronal performance by favouring electrical shortcuts, Cellot, G., Cilia, E., Cipollone, S., Rancic, V., Sucapane, A., Giordani, S. , Gambazzi, L., Markram, H., Grandolfo, M., Scaini, D., Gelain, F., Casalis, L. , Prato, M., Giugliano, M., Ballerini, L., Nature Nanotechnology 4, 126 (2009) |
