1
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Di Mauro G, González VJ, Bambini F, Camarda S, Prado E, Holgado JP, Vázquez E, Ballerini L, Cellot G. MoS 2 2D materials induce spinal cord neuroinflammation and neurotoxicity affecting locomotor performance in zebrafish. Nanoscale Horiz 2024; 9:785-798. [PMID: 38466179 DOI: 10.1039/d4nh00041b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
MoS2 nanosheets belong to an emerging family of nanomaterials named bidimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (2D TMDCs). The use of such promising materials, featuring outstanding chemical and physical properties, is expected to increase in several fields of science and technology, with an enhanced risk of environmental dispersion and associated wildlife and human exposures. In this framework, the assessment of MoS2 nanosheets toxicity is instrumental to safe industrial developments. Currently, the impact of the nanomaterial on the nervous tissue is unexplored. In this work, we use as in vivo experimental model the early-stage zebrafish, to investigate whether mechano-chemically exfoliated MoS2 nanosheets reach and affect, when added in the behavioral ambient, the nervous system. By high throughput screening of zebrafish larvae locomotor behavioral changes upon exposure to MoS2 nanosheets and whole organism live imaging of spinal neuronal and glial cell calcium activity, we report that sub-acute and prolonged ambient exposures to MoS2 nanosheets elicit locomotor abnormalities, dependent on dose and observation time. While 25 μg mL-1 concentration treatments exerted transient effects, 50 μg mL-1 ones induced long-lasting changes, correlated to neuroinflammation-driven alterations in the spinal cord, such as astrogliosis, glial intracellular calcium dysregulation, neuronal hyperactivity and motor axons retraction. By combining integrated technological approaches to zebrafish, we described that MoS2 2D nanomaterials can reach, upon water (i.e. ambient) exposure, the nervous system of larvae, resulting in a direct neurological damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Di Mauro
- Neuron Physiology and Technology Lab, Neuroscience area, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Via Bonomea 265, 34136, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Viviana Jehová González
- Instituto Regional de Investigación Científica Aplicada (IRICA), UCLM, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Francesco Bambini
- Neuron Physiology and Technology Lab, Neuroscience area, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Via Bonomea 265, 34136, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Silvia Camarda
- Neuron Physiology and Technology Lab, Neuroscience area, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Via Bonomea 265, 34136, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Eduardo Prado
- Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Castilla La Mancha, Avda. Camilo José Cela 10, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Juan Pedro Holgado
- Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Sevilla, Centro Mixto Universidad de Sevilla-CSIC, Américo Vespucio, 49, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Ester Vázquez
- Instituto Regional de Investigación Científica Aplicada (IRICA), UCLM, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
- Facultad de Ciencias y Tecnologías Químicas, UCLM, Avda. Camilo José Cela S/N, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Laura Ballerini
- Neuron Physiology and Technology Lab, Neuroscience area, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Via Bonomea 265, 34136, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Giada Cellot
- Neuron Physiology and Technology Lab, Neuroscience area, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Via Bonomea 265, 34136, Trieste, Italy.
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2
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Lin H, Buerki-Thurnherr T, Kaur J, Wick P, Pelin M, Tubaro A, Carniel FC, Tretiach M, Flahaut E, Iglesias D, Vázquez E, Cellot G, Ballerini L, Castagnola V, Benfenati F, Armirotti A, Sallustrau A, Taran F, Keck M, Bussy C, Vranic S, Kostarelos K, Connolly M, Navas JM, Mouchet F, Gauthier L, Baker J, Suarez-Merino B, Kanerva T, Prato M, Fadeel B, Bianco A. Environmental and Health Impacts of Graphene and Other Two-Dimensional Materials: A Graphene Flagship Perspective. ACS Nano 2024; 18:6038-6094. [PMID: 38350010 PMCID: PMC10906101 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c09699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Two-dimensional (2D) materials have attracted tremendous interest ever since the isolation of atomically thin sheets of graphene in 2004 due to the specific and versatile properties of these materials. However, the increasing production and use of 2D materials necessitate a thorough evaluation of the potential impact on human health and the environment. Furthermore, harmonized test protocols are needed with which to assess the safety of 2D materials. The Graphene Flagship project (2013-2023), funded by the European Commission, addressed the identification of the possible hazard of graphene-based materials as well as emerging 2D materials including transition metal dichalcogenides, hexagonal boron nitride, and others. Additionally, so-called green chemistry approaches were explored to achieve the goal of a safe and sustainable production and use of this fascinating family of nanomaterials. The present review provides a compact survey of the findings and the lessons learned in the Graphene Flagship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hazel Lin
- CNRS,
UPR3572, Immunology, Immunopathology and Therapeutic Chemistry, ISIS, University of Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Tina Buerki-Thurnherr
- Empa,
Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Laboratory for Particles-Biology Interactions, 9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Jasreen Kaur
- Nanosafety
& Nanomedicine Laboratory, Institute
of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 177 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Peter Wick
- Empa,
Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Laboratory for Particles-Biology Interactions, 9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Marco Pelin
- Department
of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Aurelia Tubaro
- Department
of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Mauro Tretiach
- Department
of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Emmanuel Flahaut
- CIRIMAT,
Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT,
UPS, 31062 Toulouse CEDEX 9, France
| | - Daniel Iglesias
- Facultad
de Ciencias y Tecnologías Químicas, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
- Instituto
Regional de Investigación Científica Aplicada (IRICA), Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Ester Vázquez
- Facultad
de Ciencias y Tecnologías Químicas, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
- Instituto
Regional de Investigación Científica Aplicada (IRICA), Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Giada Cellot
- International
School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Laura Ballerini
- International
School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Valentina Castagnola
- Center
for
Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto
Italiano di Tecnologia, 16132 Genova, Italy
- IRCCS
Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Fabio Benfenati
- Center
for
Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto
Italiano di Tecnologia, 16132 Genova, Italy
- IRCCS
Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Andrea Armirotti
- Analytical
Chemistry Facility, Istituto Italiano di
Tecnologia, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Antoine Sallustrau
- Département
Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, SIMoS, Gif-sur-Yvette 91191, France
| | - Frédéric Taran
- Département
Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, SIMoS, Gif-sur-Yvette 91191, France
| | - Mathilde Keck
- Département
Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, SIMoS, Gif-sur-Yvette 91191, France
| | - Cyrill Bussy
- Nanomedicine
Lab, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester,
Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, National Graphene Institute, Manchester M13 9PT, United
Kingdom
| | - Sandra Vranic
- Nanomedicine
Lab, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester,
Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, National Graphene Institute, Manchester M13 9PT, United
Kingdom
| | - Kostas Kostarelos
- Nanomedicine
Lab, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester,
Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, National Graphene Institute, Manchester M13 9PT, United
Kingdom
| | - Mona Connolly
- Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología
Agraria
y Alimentaria (INIA), CSIC, Carretera de la Coruña Km 7,5, E-28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - José Maria Navas
- Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología
Agraria
y Alimentaria (INIA), CSIC, Carretera de la Coruña Km 7,5, E-28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Florence Mouchet
- Laboratoire
Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, 31000 Toulouse, France
| | - Laury Gauthier
- Laboratoire
Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, 31000 Toulouse, France
| | - James Baker
- TEMAS Solutions GmbH, 5212 Hausen, Switzerland
| | | | - Tomi Kanerva
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, 00250 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Maurizio Prato
- Center
for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 20014 Donostia-San
Sebastián, Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
- Department
of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Bengt Fadeel
- Nanosafety
& Nanomedicine Laboratory, Institute
of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 177 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Alberto Bianco
- CNRS,
UPR3572, Immunology, Immunopathology and Therapeutic Chemistry, ISIS, University of Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
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3
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Tortella L, Santini I, Lozano N, Kostarelos K, Cellot G, Ballerini L. Graphene Oxide Nanosheets Hamper Glutamate Mediated Excitotoxicity and Protect Neuronal Survival In An In vitro Stroke Model. Chemistry 2023; 29:e202301762. [PMID: 37706581 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202301762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Small graphene oxide (s-GO) nanosheets reversibly downregulate central nervous system (CNS) excitatory synapses, with potential developments as future therapeutic tools to treat neuro-disorders characterized by altered glutamatergic transmission. Excitotoxicity, namely cell death triggered by exceeding ambient glutamate fueling over-activation of excitatory synapses, is a pathogenic mechanism shared by several neural diseases, from ischemic stroke to neurodegenerative disorders. In this work, CNS cultures were exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) to mimic ischemic stroke in vitro, and it is show that the delivery of s-GO following OGD, during the endogenous build-up of secondary damage and excitotoxicity, improved neuronal survival. In a different paradigm, excitotoxicity cell damage was reproduced through exogenous glutamate application, and s-GO co-treatment protected neuronal integrity, potentially by directly downregulating the synaptic over-activation brought about by exogenous glutamate. This proof-of-concept study suggests that s-GO may find novel applications in therapeutic developments for treating excitotoxicity-driven neural cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenza Tortella
- Neuroscience Area, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), Via Bonomea 265, 34136, Trieste, Italy
| | - Irene Santini
- Neuroscience Area, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), Via Bonomea 265, 34136, Trieste, Italy
| | - Neus Lozano
- Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), CSIC and BIST, Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Kostas Kostarelos
- Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), CSIC and BIST, Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Barcelona, Spain
- Nanomedicine Lab, and Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, The National Graphene Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom
| | - Giada Cellot
- Neuroscience Area, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), Via Bonomea 265, 34136, Trieste, Italy
| | - Laura Ballerini
- Neuroscience Area, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), Via Bonomea 265, 34136, Trieste, Italy
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4
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Pati E, Franceschi Biagioni A, Casani R, Lozano N, Kostarelos K, Cellot G, Ballerini L. Delivery of graphene oxide nanosheets modulates glutamate release and normalizes amygdala synaptic plasticity to improve anxiety-related behavior. Nanoscale 2023; 15:18581-18591. [PMID: 37955642 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr04490d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Graphene oxide nanosheets (GO) were reported to alter neurobiological processes involving cell membrane dynamics. GO ability to reversibly downregulate specifically glutamatergic synapses underpins their potential in future neurotherapeutic developments. Aberrant glutamate plasticity contributes to stress-related psychopathology and drugs which target dysregulated glutamate represent promising treatments. We find that in a rat model of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a single injection of GO to the lateral amygdala following the stressful event induced PTSD-related behavior remission and reduced dendritic spine densities. We explored from a mechanistic perspective how GO could impair glutamate synaptic plasticity. By simultaneous patch clamp pair recordings of unitary synaptic currents, live-imaging of presynaptic vesicle release and confocal microscopy, we report that GO nanosheets altered the probability of release enhancing the extinction of synaptic plasticity in the amygdala. These findings show that the modulation of presynaptic glutamate release might represent an unexplored target for (nano)pharmacological interventions of stress-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Pati
- Neuroscience Area, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136 Trieste, Italy.
| | | | - Raffaele Casani
- Neuroscience Area, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136 Trieste, Italy.
| | - Neus Lozano
- Nanomedicine Lab Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), CSIC and BIST, Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Kostas Kostarelos
- Nanomedicine Lab Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), CSIC and BIST, Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
- Nanomedicine Lab, and Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, The National Graphene Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Giada Cellot
- Neuroscience Area, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136 Trieste, Italy.
| | - Laura Ballerini
- Neuroscience Area, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136 Trieste, Italy.
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5
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Cellot G, Jacquemin L, Reina G, Franceschi Biagioni A, Fontanini M, Chaloin O, Nishina Y, Bianco A, Ballerini L. Correction to "Bonding of Neuropeptide Y on Graphene Oxide for Drug Delivery Applications to the Central Nervous System". ACS Appl Nano Mater 2023; 6:8105. [PMID: 37205294 PMCID: PMC10186328 DOI: 10.1021/acsanm.3c01600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1021/acsanm.2c03409.].
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6
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Di Mauro G, Amoriello R, Lozano N, Carnasciali A, Guasti D, Becucci M, Cellot G, Kostarelos K, Ballerini C, Ballerini L. Graphene Oxide Nanosheets Reduce Astrocyte Reactivity to Inflammation and Ameliorate Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis. ACS Nano 2023; 17:1965-1978. [PMID: 36692902 PMCID: PMC9933621 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c06609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
In neuroinflammation, astrocytes play multifaceted roles that regulate the neuronal environment. Astrocytes sense and respond to pro-inflammatory cytokines (CKs) and, by a repertoire of intracellular Ca2+ signaling, contribute to disease progression. Therapeutic approaches wish to reduce the overactivation in Ca2+ signaling in inflammatory-reactive astrocytes to restore dysregulated cellular changes. Cell-targeting therapeutics might take advantage by the use of nanomaterial-multifunctional platforms such as graphene oxide (GO). GO biomedical applications in the nervous system involve therapeutic delivery and sensing, and GO flakes were shown to enable interfacing of neuronal and glial membrane dynamics. We exploit organotypic spinal cord cultures and optical imaging to explore Ca2+ changes in astrocytes, and we report, when spinal tissue is exposed to CKs, neuroinflammatory-associated modulation of resident glia. We show the efficacy of GO to revert these dynamic changes in astrocytic reactivity to CKs, and we translate this potential in an animal model of immune-mediated neuroinflammatory disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Di Mauro
- International
School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136Trieste, Italy
| | - Roberta Amoriello
- International
School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136Trieste, Italy
- Dipartimento
di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, University
of Florence, 50139Florence, Italy
| | - Neus Lozano
- Catalan
Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), 08193Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alberto Carnasciali
- Dipartimento
di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, University
of Florence, 50139Florence, Italy
| | - Daniele Guasti
- Dipartimento
di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, University
of Florence, 50139Florence, Italy
| | - Maurizio Becucci
- Dipartimento
di Chimica “Ugo Schiff”, DICUS, University of Florence, 50139Florence, Italy
| | - Giada Cellot
- International
School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136Trieste, Italy
| | - Kostas Kostarelos
- Catalan
Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), 08193Barcelona, Spain
- Nanomedicine
Lab, and Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, The National Graphene
Institute, University of Manchester, ManchesterM13 9PL, United Kingdom
| | - Clara Ballerini
- Dipartimento
di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, University
of Florence, 50139Florence, Italy
| | - Laura Ballerini
- International
School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136Trieste, Italy
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7
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Cellot G, Jacquemin L, Reina G, Franceschi Biagioni A, Fontanini M, Chaloin O, Nishina Y, Bianco A, Ballerini L. Bonding of Neuropeptide Y on Graphene Oxide for Drug Delivery Applications to the Central Nervous System. ACS Appl Nano Mater 2022; 5:17640-17651. [PMID: 36583122 PMCID: PMC9791619 DOI: 10.1021/acsanm.2c03409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Nanoscale graphene-based materials (GBMs) enable targeting subcellular structures of the nervous system, a feature crucial for the successful engineering of alternative nanocarriers to deliver drugs and to treat neurodisorders. Among GBMs, graphene oxide (GO) nanoflakes, showing good dispersibility in water solution and being rich of functionalizable oxygen groups, are ideal core structures for carrying biological active molecules to the brain, such as the neuropeptide Y (NPY). In addition, when unconjugated, these nanomaterials have been reported to modulate neuronal function per se. Although some GBM-based nanocarriers have been tested both in vitro and in vivo, a thorough characterization of covalent binding impact on the biological properties of the carried molecule and/or of the nanomaterial is still missing. Here, a copper(I)-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition strategy was employed to synthesize the GO-NPY complex. By investigating through electrophysiology the impact of these conjugates on the activity of hippocampal neurons, we show that the covalent modification of the nanomaterial, while making GO an inert platform for the vectorized delivery, enhances the duration of NPY pharmacological activity. These findings support the future use of GO for the development of smart platforms for nervous system drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giada Cellot
- International
School for Advanced Studies, SISSA, Via Bonomea n. 265, 34136Trieste, Italy
| | - Lucas Jacquemin
- CNRS,
Immunology, Immunopathology and Therapeutic Chemistry, UPR 3572, University
of Strasbourg ISIS, 67000Strasbourg, France
| | - Giacomo Reina
- CNRS,
Immunology, Immunopathology and Therapeutic Chemistry, UPR 3572, University
of Strasbourg ISIS, 67000Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Mario Fontanini
- International
School for Advanced Studies, SISSA, Via Bonomea n. 265, 34136Trieste, Italy
| | - Olivier Chaloin
- CNRS,
Immunology, Immunopathology and Therapeutic Chemistry, UPR 3572, University
of Strasbourg ISIS, 67000Strasbourg, France
| | - Yuta Nishina
- Graduate
School of Natural Science and Technology and Research Core for Interdisciplinary
Sciences, Okayama University, Tsushimanaka, Kita-ku, Okayama700-8530, Japan
| | - Alberto Bianco
- CNRS,
Immunology, Immunopathology and Therapeutic Chemistry, UPR 3572, University
of Strasbourg ISIS, 67000Strasbourg, France
| | - Laura Ballerini
- International
School for Advanced Studies, SISSA, Via Bonomea n. 265, 34136Trieste, Italy
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8
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Cellot G, Franceschi Biagioni A, Ballerini L. Nanomedicine and graphene-based materials: advanced technologies for potential treatments of diseases in the developing nervous system. Pediatr Res 2022; 92:71-79. [PMID: 34480086 PMCID: PMC9411050 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-021-01681-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The interest in graphene-based nanomaterials (GBNs) application in nanomedicine, in particular in neurology, steadily increased in the last decades. GBNs peculiar physical-chemical properties allow the design of innovative therapeutic tools able to manipulate biological structures with subcellular resolution. In this review, we report GBNs applications to the central nervous system (CNS) when these nanomaterials are engineered as potential therapeutics to treat brain pathologies, with a focus on those of the pediatric age. We revise the state-of-the art studies addressing the impact of GBNs in the CNS, showing that the design of GBNs with different dimensions and chemical compositions or the use of specific administration routes and doses can limit unwanted side effects, exploiting GBNs efficacy in therapeutic approaches. These features favor the development of GBNs-based multifunctional devices that may find applications in the field of precision medicine for the treatment of disorders in the developing CNS. In this framework, we address the suitability of GBNs to become successful therapeutic tools, such as drug nano-delivery vectors when being chemically decorated with pharmaceutical agents and/or other molecules to obtain a high specific targeting of the diseased area and to achieve a controlled release of active molecules. IMPACT: The translational potential of graphene-based nanomaterials (GBNs) can be used for the design of novel therapeutic approaches to treat pathologies affecting the brain with a focus on the pediatric age. GBNs can be chemically decorated with pharmaceutical agents and molecules to obtain a highly specific targeting of the diseased site and a controlled drug release. The type of GBNs, the selected functionalization, the dose, and the way of administration are factors that should be considered to potentiate the therapeutic efficacy of GBNs, limiting possible side effects. GBNs-based multifunctional devices might find applications in the precision medicine and theranostics fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giada Cellot
- Neuron Physiology and Technology Lab, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy.
| | - Audrey Franceschi Biagioni
- grid.5970.b0000 0004 1762 9868Neuron Physiology and Technology Lab, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Laura Ballerini
- Neuron Physiology and Technology Lab, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy.
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9
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Di Mauro G, Rauti R, Casani R, Chimowa G, Galibert AM, Flahaut E, Cellot G, Ballerini L. Tuning the Reduction of Graphene Oxide Nanoflakes Differently Affects Neuronal Networks in the Zebrafish. Nanomaterials (Basel) 2021; 11:2161. [PMID: 34578477 PMCID: PMC8468975 DOI: 10.3390/nano11092161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The increasing engineering of biomedical devices and the design of drug-delivery platforms enriched by graphene-based components demand careful investigations of the impact of graphene-related materials (GRMs) on the nervous system. In addition, the enhanced diffusion of GRM-based products and technologies that might favor the dispersion in the environment of GRMs nanoparticles urgently requires the potential neurotoxicity of these compounds to be addressed. One of the challenges in providing definite evidence supporting the harmful or safe use of GRMs is addressing the variety of this family of materials, with GRMs differing for size and chemistry. Such a diversity impairs reaching a unique and predictive picture of the effects of GRMs on the nervous system. Here, by exploiting the thermal reduction of graphene oxide nanoflakes (GO) to generate materials with different oxygen/carbon ratios, we used a high-throughput analysis of early-stage zebrafish locomotor behavior to investigate if modifications of a specific GRM chemical property influenced how these nanomaterials affect vertebrate sensory-motor neurophysiology-exposing zebrafish to GO downregulated their swimming performance. Conversely, reduced GO (rGO) treatments boosted locomotor activity. We concluded that the tuning of single GRM chemical properties is sufficient to produce differential effects on nervous system physiology, likely interfering with different signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Di Mauro
- Neuron Physiology and Technology Lab, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Neuroscience, Via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy; (G.D.M.); (R.R.); (R.C.)
| | - Rossana Rauti
- Neuron Physiology and Technology Lab, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Neuroscience, Via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy; (G.D.M.); (R.R.); (R.C.)
| | - Raffaele Casani
- Neuron Physiology and Technology Lab, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Neuroscience, Via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy; (G.D.M.); (R.R.); (R.C.)
| | - George Chimowa
- CIRIMAT, UMR CNRS 5085, Université Toulouse Paul Sabatier, Bat. CIRIMAT, 118 Route de Narbonne, CEDEX 9, 31062 Toulouse, France; (G.C.); (A.M.G.); (E.F.)
| | - Anne Marie Galibert
- CIRIMAT, UMR CNRS 5085, Université Toulouse Paul Sabatier, Bat. CIRIMAT, 118 Route de Narbonne, CEDEX 9, 31062 Toulouse, France; (G.C.); (A.M.G.); (E.F.)
| | - Emmanuel Flahaut
- CIRIMAT, UMR CNRS 5085, Université Toulouse Paul Sabatier, Bat. CIRIMAT, 118 Route de Narbonne, CEDEX 9, 31062 Toulouse, France; (G.C.); (A.M.G.); (E.F.)
| | - Giada Cellot
- Neuron Physiology and Technology Lab, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Neuroscience, Via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy; (G.D.M.); (R.R.); (R.C.)
| | - Laura Ballerini
- Neuron Physiology and Technology Lab, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Neuroscience, Via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy; (G.D.M.); (R.R.); (R.C.)
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Franceschi Biagioni A, Cellot G, Pati E, Lozano N, Ballesteros B, Casani R, Coimbra NC, Kostarelos K, Ballerini L. Graphene oxide prevents lateral amygdala dysfunctional synaptic plasticity and reverts long lasting anxiety behavior in rats. Biomaterials 2021; 271:120749. [PMID: 33714913 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.120749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Engineered small graphene oxide (s-GO) sheets were previously shown to reversibly down-regulate glutamatergic synapses in the hippocampus of juvenile rats, disclosing an unexpected translational potential of these nanomaterials to target selective synapses in vivo. Synapses are anatomical specializations acting in the Central Nervous System (CNS) as functional interfaces among neurons. Dynamic changes in synaptic function, named synaptic plasticity, are crucial to learning and memory. More recently, pathological mechanisms involving dysfunctional synaptic plasticity were implicated in several brain diseases, from dementia to anxiety disorders. Hyper-excitability of glutamatergic neurons in the lateral nucleus of the amygdala complex (LA) is substantially involved in the storage of aversive memory induced by stressful events enabling post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Here we translated in PTSD animal model the ability of s-GO, when stereotaxically administered to hamper LA glutamatergic transmission and to prevent the behavioral response featured in long-term aversive memory. We propose that s-GO, by interference with glutamatergic plasticity, impair LA-dependent memory retrieval related to PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Franceschi Biagioni
- Neuron Physiology and Technology Lab, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Neuroscience, Via Bonomea 265, 34136, Trieste, Italy
| | - Giada Cellot
- Neuron Physiology and Technology Lab, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Neuroscience, Via Bonomea 265, 34136, Trieste, Italy
| | - Elisa Pati
- Neuron Physiology and Technology Lab, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Neuroscience, Via Bonomea 265, 34136, Trieste, Italy
| | - Neus Lozano
- Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), CSIC and BIST, Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Belén Ballesteros
- Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), CSIC and BIST, Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raffaele Casani
- Neuron Physiology and Technology Lab, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Neuroscience, Via Bonomea 265, 34136, Trieste, Italy
| | - Norberto Cysne Coimbra
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy & Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Av. Bandeirantes 3900, 14049-900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Kostas Kostarelos
- Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), CSIC and BIST, Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Barcelona, Spain; Nanomedicine Lab, National Graphene Institute and Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, The University of Manchester, AV Hill Building, Oxford Rd, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Ballerini
- Neuron Physiology and Technology Lab, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Neuroscience, Via Bonomea 265, 34136, Trieste, Italy.
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Cellot G, Vranic S, Shin Y, Worsley R, Rodrigues AF, Bussy C, Casiraghi C, Kostarelos K, McDearmid JR. Graphene oxide nanosheets modulate spinal glutamatergic transmission and modify locomotor behaviour in an in vivo zebrafish model. Nanoscale Horiz 2020; 5:1250-1263. [PMID: 32558850 DOI: 10.1039/c9nh00777f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Graphene oxide (GO), an oxidised form of graphene, is widely used for biomedical applications, due to its dispersibility in water and simple surface chemistry tunability. In particular, small (less than 500 nm in lateral dimension) and thin (1-3 carbon monolayers) graphene oxide nanosheets (s-GO) have been shown to selectively inhibit glutamatergic transmission in neuronal cultures in vitro and in brain explants obtained from animals injected with the nanomaterial. This raises the exciting prospect that s-GO can be developed as a platform for novel nervous system therapeutics. It has not yet been investigated whether the interference of the nanomaterial with neurotransmission may have a downstream outcome in modulation of behaviour depending specifically on the activation of those synapses. To address this problem we use early stage zebrafish as an in vivo model to study the impact of s-GO on nervous system function. Microinjection of s-GO into the embryonic zebrafish spinal cord selectively reduces the excitatory synaptic transmission of the spinal network, monitored in vivo through patch clamp recordings, without affecting spinal cell survival. This effect is accompanied by a perturbation in the swimming activity of larvae, which is the locomotor behaviour generated by the neuronal network of the spinal cord. Such results indicate that the impact of s-GO on glutamate based neuronal transmission is preserved in vivo and can induce changes in animal behaviour. These findings pave the way for use of s-GO as a modulator of nervous system function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giada Cellot
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour, College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK
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Secomandi N, Franceschi Biagioni A, Kostarelos K, Cellot G, Ballerini L. Thin graphene oxide nanoflakes modulate glutamatergic synapses in the amygdala cultured circuits: Exploiting synaptic approaches to anxiety disorders. Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine 2020; 26:102174. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2020.102174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Cellot G, La Monica S, Scaini D, Rauti R, Bosi S, Prato M, Gandolfi S, Ballerini L. Successful Regrowth of Retinal Neurons When Cultured Interfaced to Carbon Nanotube Platforms. J Biomed Nanotechnol 2017. [DOI: 10.1166/jbn.2017.2364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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14
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Medelin M, Rancic V, Cellot G, Laishram J, Veeraraghavan P, Rossi C, Muzio L, Sivilotti L, Ballerini L. Altered development in GABA co-release shapes glycinergic synaptic currents in cultured spinal slices of the SOD1(G93A) mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Physiol 2016; 594:3827-40. [PMID: 27098371 DOI: 10.1113/jp272382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2016] [Accepted: 04/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS Increased environmental risk factors in conjunction with genetic susceptibility have been proposed with respect to the remarkable variations in mortality in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In vitro models allow the investigation of the genetically modified counter-regulator of motoneuron toxicity and may help in addressing ALS therapy. Spinal organotypic slice cultures from a mutant form of human superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1G93A) mouse model of ALS allow the detection of altered glycinergic inhibition in spinal microcircuits. This altered inhibition improved spinal cord excitability, affecting motor outputs in early SOD1(G93A) pathogenesis. ABSTRACT Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal, adult-onset neurological disease characterized by a progressive degeneration of motoneurons (MNs). In a previous study, we developed organotypic spinal cultures from an ALS mouse model expressing a mutant form of human superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1(G93A) ). We reported the presence of a significant synaptic rearrangement expressed by these embryonic cultured networks, which may lead to the altered development of spinal synaptic signalling, which is potentially linked to the adult disease phenotype. Recent studies on the same ALS mouse model reported a selective loss of glycinergic innervation in cultured MNs, suggestive of a contribution of synaptic inhibition to MN dysfunction and degeneration. In the present study, we further exploit organotypic cultures from wild-type and SOD1(G93A) mice to investigate the development of glycine-receptor-mediated synaptic currents recorded from the interneurons of the premotor ventral circuits. We performed single cell electrophysiology, immunocytochemistry and confocal microscopy and suggest that GABA co-release may speed the decay of glycine responses altering both temporal precision and signal integration in SOD1(G93A) developing networks at the postsynaptic site. Our hypothesis is supported by the finding of an increased MN bursting activity in immature SOD1(G93A) spinal cords and by immunofluorescence microscopy detection of a longer persistence of GABA in SOD1(G93A) glycinergic terminals in cultured and ex vivo spinal slices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Medelin
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Vladimir Rancic
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Giada Cellot
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Jummi Laishram
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Chiara Rossi
- Neuroimmunology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSPE), San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Muzio
- Neuroimmunology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSPE), San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Lucia Sivilotti
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London (UCL), London, UK
| | - Laura Ballerini
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.,International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), Trieste, Italy
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Fabbro A, Scaini D, León V, Vázquez E, Cellot G, Privitera G, Lombardi L, Torrisi F, Tomarchio F, Bonaccorso F, Bosi S, Ferrari AC, Ballerini L, Prato M. Graphene-Based Interfaces Do Not Alter Target Nerve Cells. ACS Nano 2016; 10:615-623. [PMID: 26700626 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.5b05647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Neural-interfaces rely on the ability of electrodes to transduce stimuli into electrical patterns delivered to the brain. In addition to sensitivity to the stimuli, stability in the operating conditions and efficient charge transfer to neurons, the electrodes should not alter the physiological properties of the target tissue. Graphene is emerging as a promising material for neuro-interfacing applications, given its outstanding physico-chemical properties. Here, we use graphene-based substrates (GBSs) to interface neuronal growth. We test our GBSs on brain cell cultures by measuring functional and synaptic integrity of the emerging neuronal networks. We show that GBSs are permissive interfaces, even when uncoated by cell adhesion layers, retaining unaltered neuronal signaling properties, thus being suitable for carbon-based neural prosthetic devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Fabbro
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS) , Trieste 34136, Italy
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste , Trieste 34127, Italy
| | - Denis Scaini
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS) , Trieste 34136, Italy
- Life Science Department, University of Trieste , Trieste 34127, Italy
- NanoInnovation Laboratory, ELETTRA Synchrotron Light Source , Trieste 34149, Italy
| | - Verónica León
- Department of Organic Chemisty, University of Castilla-La Mancha , Ciudad Real 13071, Spain
| | - Ester Vázquez
- Department of Organic Chemisty, University of Castilla-La Mancha , Ciudad Real 13071, Spain
| | - Giada Cellot
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS) , Trieste 34136, Italy
| | - Giulia Privitera
- Cambridge Graphene Centre, University of Cambridge , Cambridge CB3 0FA, United Kingdom
| | - Lucia Lombardi
- Cambridge Graphene Centre, University of Cambridge , Cambridge CB3 0FA, United Kingdom
| | - Felice Torrisi
- Cambridge Graphene Centre, University of Cambridge , Cambridge CB3 0FA, United Kingdom
| | - Flavia Tomarchio
- Cambridge Graphene Centre, University of Cambridge , Cambridge CB3 0FA, United Kingdom
| | - Francesco Bonaccorso
- Cambridge Graphene Centre, University of Cambridge , Cambridge CB3 0FA, United Kingdom
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Graphene Labs , Genova 16163, Italy
| | - Susanna Bosi
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste , Trieste 34127, Italy
| | - Andrea C Ferrari
- Cambridge Graphene Centre, University of Cambridge , Cambridge CB3 0FA, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Ballerini
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS) , Trieste 34136, Italy
- Life Science Department, University of Trieste , Trieste 34127, Italy
| | - Maurizio Prato
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste , Trieste 34127, Italy
- Carbon Nanobiotechnology Laboratory, CIC biomaGUNE , Paseo de Miramón 182, 20009 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
- Basque Foundation for Science, Ikerbasque , Bilbao 48013, Spain
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Cellot G, Lagonegro P, Tarabella G, Scaini D, Fabbri F, Iannotta S, Prato M, Salviati G, Ballerini L. PEDOT:PSS Interfaces Support the Development of Neuronal Synaptic Networks with Reduced Neuroglia Response In vitro. Front Neurosci 2016; 9:521. [PMID: 26834546 PMCID: PMC4712304 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2015.00521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2015] [Accepted: 12/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The design of electrodes based on conductive polymers in brain-machine interface technology offers the opportunity to exploit variably manufactured materials to reduce gliosis, indeed the most common brain response to chronically implanted neural electrodes. In fact, the use of conductive polymers, finely tailored in their physical-chemical properties, might result in electrodes with improved adaptability to the brain tissue and increased charge-transfer efficiency. Here we interfaced poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) ( PEDOT PSS) doped with different amounts of ethylene glycol (EG) with rat hippocampal primary cultures grown for 3 weeks on these synthetic substrates. We used immunofluorescence and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined to single cell electrophysiology to assess the biocompatibility of PEDOT PSS in terms of neuronal growth and synapse formation. We investigated neuronal morphology, density and electrical activity. We reported the novel observation that opposite to neurons, glial cell density was progressively reduced, hinting at the ability of this material to down regulate glial reaction. Thus, PEDOT PSS is an attractive candidate for the design of new implantable electrodes, controlling the extent of glial reactivity without affecting neuronal viability and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giada Cellot
- Department of Neuroscience, International School for Advanced StudiesTrieste, Italy
| | | | | | - Denis Scaini
- ELETTRA Synchrotron Light SourceTrieste, Italy
- Department of Life Science, University of TriesteTrieste, Italy
| | | | | | - Maurizio Prato
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of TriesteTrieste, Italy
| | | | - Laura Ballerini
- Department of Neuroscience, International School for Advanced StudiesTrieste, Italy
- Department of Life Science, University of TriesteTrieste, Italy
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Cellot G, Cherubini E. Reduced inhibitory gate in the barrel cortex of Neuroligin3R451C knock-in mice, an animal model of autism spectrum disorders. Physiol Rep 2014; 2:2/7/e12077. [PMID: 25347860 PMCID: PMC4187543 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.12077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroligins are postsynaptic adhesion molecules that interacting with presynaptic neurexins ensure the cross‐talk between pre‐ and postsynaptic specializations. Rare mutations in neurexin–neuroligin genes have been linked to autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). One of these, the R451C mutation of the gene encoding for Neuroligin3 (Nlgn3), has been found in patients with familial forms of ASDs. Animals carrying this mutation (NL3R451C knock‐in mice) exhibit impaired social behaviors, reminiscent of those observed in ASD patients, associated with major alterations in both GABAergic and glutamatergic transmission, which vary among different brain regions and at different developmental stages. Here, pair recordings from parvalbumin‐ (PV) expressing basket cells and spiny neurons were used to study GABAergic synaptic signaling in layer IV barrel cortex of NL3R451C mutant mice. We found that the R451C mutation severely affects the probability of GABA release from PV‐expressing basket cells, responsible for controlling via thalamo‐cortical inputs the feed‐forward inhibition. No changes in excitatory inputs to parvalbumin‐positive basket cells or spiny neurons were detected. These data clearly show that primary targets of the NL3 mutation are PV‐expressing basket cells, independently of the brain region where they are localized. Changes in the inhibitory gate of layer IV somatosensory cortex may alter sensory processing in ASD patients leading to misleading sensory representations with difficulties to combine pieces of information into a unified perceptual whole. Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) comprise a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental abnormalities, characterized by impaired social interactions. Here, using mice carrying the R451C mutation of the Nlgn3 gene (found in few familial cases of ASDs), and exhibiting behavioral deficits reminiscent of those present in ASD patients, we found that, in layer IV barrel cortex microcircuit, parvalbumin‐expressing basket cells display a reduced probability of GABA release into spiny neurons. Alterations of GABAergic signaling in layer IV somatosensory cortex of NL3R451C knock‐in mice may alter sensory processing leading to misleading sensory representations with difficulties to combine pieces of information into a unified perceptual whole.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giada Cellot
- Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, 34136, Italy
| | - Enrico Cherubini
- Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, 34136, Italy European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Rita Levi-Montalcini Foundation, Rome, 00143, Italy
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Abstract
γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA), the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the adult brain, early in postnatal life exerts a depolarizing and excitatory action. This depends on accumulation of chloride inside the cell via the cation-chloride importer NKCC1, being the expression of the chloride exporter KCC2 very low at birth. The developmentally regulated expression of KCC2 results in extrusion of chloride with age and a shift of GABA from the depolarizing to the hyperpolarizing direction. The depolarizing action of GABA leads to intracellular calcium rise through voltage-dependent calcium channels and/or N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors. GABA-mediated calcium signals regulate a variety of developmental processes from cell proliferation migration, differentiation, synapse maturation, and neuronal wiring. Therefore, it is not surprising that some forms of neuro-developmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are associated with alterations of GABAergic signaling and impairment of the excitatory/inhibitory balance in selective neuronal circuits. In this review, we will discuss how changes of GABAA-mediated neurotransmission affect several forms of ASDs including the Fragile X, the Angelman, and Rett syndromes. Then, we will describe various animal models of ASDs with GABAergic dysfunctions, highlighting their behavioral deficits and the possibility to rescue them by targeting selective components of the GABAergic synapse. In particular, we will discuss how in some cases, reverting the polarity of GABA responses from the depolarizing to the hyperpolarizing direction with the diuretic bumetanide, a selective blocker of NKCC1, may have beneficial effects on ASDs, thus opening new therapeutic perspectives for the treatment of these devastating disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giada Cellot
- Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati , Trieste , Italy
| | - Enrico Cherubini
- Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati , Trieste , Italy ; European Brain Research Institute , Rome , Italy
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Martinelli V, Cellot G, Fabbro A, Bosi S, Mestroni L, Ballerini L. Improving cardiac myocytes performance by carbon nanotubes platforms. Front Physiol 2013; 4:239. [PMID: 24027533 PMCID: PMC3759786 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2013.00239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2013] [Accepted: 08/14/2013] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The application of nanotechnology to the cardiovascular system has increasingly caught scientists' attention as a potentially powerful tool for the development of new generation devices able to interface, repair, or boost the performance of cardiac tissue. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are considered as promising materials for nanomedicine applications in general and have been recently tested toward excitable cell growth. CNTs are cylindrically shaped structures made up of rolled-up graphene sheets, with unique electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties, able to effectively conducting electrical current in electrochemical interfaces. CNTs-based scaffolds have been recently found to support the in vitro growth of cardiac cells: in particular, their ability to improve cardiomyocytes proliferation, maturation, and electrical behavior are making CNTs extremely attractive for the development and exploitation of interfaces able to impact on cardiac cells physiology and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Martinelli
- Molecular Medicine Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Trieste, Italy
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20
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Cellot G, Cherubini E. Functional role of ambient GABA in refining neuronal circuits early in postnatal development. Front Neural Circuits 2013; 7:136. [PMID: 23964205 PMCID: PMC3741556 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2013.00136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2013] [Accepted: 07/29/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Early in development, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mature brain, depolarizes and excites targeted neurons by an outwardly directed flux of chloride, resulting from the peculiar balance between the cation-chloride importer NKCC1 and the extruder KCC2. The low expression of KCC2 at birth leads to accumulation of chloride inside the cell and to the equilibrium potential for chloride positive respect to the resting membrane potential. GABA exerts its action via synaptic and extrasynaptic GABAA receptors mediating phasic and tonic inhibition, respectively. Here, recent data on the contribution of "ambient" GABA to the refinement of neuronal circuits in the immature brain have been reviewed. In particular, we focus on the hippocampus, where, prior to the formation of conventional synapses, GABA released from growth cones and astrocytes in a calcium- and SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive-factor attachment protein receptor)-independent way, diffuses away to activate in a paracrine fashion extrasynaptic receptors localized on distal neurons. The transient increase in intracellular calcium following the depolarizing action of GABA leads to inhibition of DNA synthesis and cell proliferation. Tonic GABA exerts also a chemotropic action on cell migration. Later on, when synapses are formed, GABA spilled out from neighboring synapses, acting mainly on extrasynaptic α5, β2, β3, and γ containing GABAA receptor subunits, provides the membrane depolarization necessary for principal cells to reach the window where intrinsic bursts are generated. These are instrumental in triggering calcium transients associated with network-driven giant depolarizing potentials which act as coincident detector signals to enhance synaptic efficacy at emerging GABAergic and glutamatergic synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giada Cellot
- Department of Neuroscience Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati Trieste, Italy
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Martinelli V, Cellot G, Toma FM, Long CS, Caldwell JH, Zentilin L, Giacca M, Turco A, Prato M, Ballerini L, Mestroni L. Carbon nanotubes instruct physiological growth and functionally mature syncytia: nongenetic engineering of cardiac myocytes. ACS Nano 2013; 7:5746-56. [PMID: 23734857 DOI: 10.1021/nn4002193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Myocardial tissue engineering currently represents one of the most realistic strategies for cardiac repair. We have recently discovered the ability of carbon nanotube scaffolds to promote cell division and maturation in cardiomyocytes. Here, we test the hypothesis that carbon nanotube scaffolds promote cardiomyocyte growth and maturation by altering the gene expression program, implementing the cell electrophysiological properties and improving networking and maturation of functional syncytia. In our study, we combine microscopy, biological and electrophysiological methodologies, and calcium imaging, to verify whether neonatal rat ventricular myocytes cultured on substrates of multiwall carbon nanotubes acquire a physiologically more mature phenotype compared to control (gelatin). We show that the carbon nanotube substrate stimulates the induction of a gene expression profile characteristic of terminal differentiation and physiological growth, with a 2-fold increase of α-myosin heavy chain (P < 0.001) and upregulation of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) ATPase 2a. In contrast, markers of pathological hypertrophy remain unchanged (β-myosin heavy chain, skeletal α-actin, atrial natriuretic peptide). These modifications are paralleled by an increase of connexin-43 gene expression, gap junctions and functional syncytia. Moreover, carbon nanotubes appear to exert a protective effect against the pathologic stimulus of phenylephrine. Finally, cardiomyocytes on carbon nanotubes demonstrate a more mature electrophysiological phenotype of syncytia and intracellular calcium signaling. Thus, carbon nanotubes interacting with cardiomyocytes have the ability to promote physiological growth and functional maturation. These properties are unique in the current vexing field of tissue engineering, and offer unprecedented perspectives in the development of innovative therapies for cardiac repair.
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Mestroni L, Martinelli V, Cellot G, Toma FM, Long C, Caldwell J, Zentilin L, Giacca M, Turco A, Prato M, Ballerini L. CARBON NANOTUBES INSTRUCT PHYSIOLOGICAL GROWTH AND FUNCTIONALLY MATURE SYNCYTIA: NON-GENETIC ENGINEERING OF CARDIAC MYOCYTES. J Am Coll Cardiol 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/s0735-1097(13)60567-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Martinelli V, Cellot G, Toma FM, Long CS, Caldwell JH, Zentilin L, Giacca M, Turco A, Prato M, Ballerini L, Mestroni L. Carbon nanotubes promote growth and spontaneous electrical activity in cultured cardiac myocytes. Nano Lett 2012; 12:1831-1838. [PMID: 22432413 DOI: 10.1021/nl204064s] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Nanoscale manipulations of the extracellular microenvironment are increasingly attracting attention in tissue engineering. Here, combining microscopy, biological, and single-cell electrophysiological methodologies, we demonstrate that neonatal rat ventricular myocytes cultured on substrates of multiwall carbon nanotubes interact with carbon nanotubes by forming tight contacts and show increased viability and proliferation. Furthermore, we observed changes in the electrophysiological properties of cardiomyocytes, suggesting that carbon nanotubes are able to promote cardiomyocyte maturation.
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Abstract
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are cylindrically shaped nanostructures made by sheets of graphene rolled up to form hollow tubes. Owing to their unique range of thermal, electronic, and structural properties, CNTs have been rapidly developing as a technology platform for biological and medical applications, including those designed to develop novel neuro-implantable devices. Depending on their structure, CNTs combine an incredible strength with an extreme flexibility. Further, these materials exhibit physical and chemical properties which allow them to efficiently conduit electrical current in electrochemical interfaces. CNTs can be organized in scaffolds made up of small fibers or tubes with diameters similar to those of neural processes such as axons and dendrites. Recently, CNT scaffolds have been found to promote growth, differentiation, and survival of neurons and to modify their electrophysiological properties. These features make CNTs an attractive material for the design of nano-bio hybrid systems able to govern cell-specific behaviors in cultured neuronal networks. The leading scope of this short review is to highlight how nanotube scaffolds can impact on neuronal signaling ability. In particular, we will focus on the direct and specific interactions between this synthetic nanomaterial and biological cell membranes, and on the ability of CNTs to improve interfaces developed to record or to stimulate neuronal activity. CNTs hold the potential for the development of innovative nanomaterial-based neurological implants. Therefore, it is particularly relevant to improve our knowledge on the impact on neuronal performance of interfacing nerve cells with CNTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Fabbro
- Life Science Department, Center for Neuroscience B.R.A.I.N., University of Trieste, TS, Italy
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Cellot G, Ballerini L, Prato M, Bianco A. Neurons are able to internalize soluble carbon nanotubes: new opportunities or old risks? Small 2010; 6:2630-2633. [PMID: 20859949 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201000906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Giada Cellot
- Life Science Department, BRAIN, University of Trieste, Via Giorgeri 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy
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Sucapane A, Cellot G, Prato M, Giugliano M, Parpura V, Ballerini L. Interactions Between Cultured Neurons and Carbon Nanotubes: A Nanoneuroscience Vignette. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009; 1:10-16. [PMID: 19865604 DOI: 10.1166/jns.2009.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Carbon nanotubes, owing to their electrical, chemical, mechanical, and thermal properties, are one of the most promising nanomaterials for the electronics, computer, and aerospace industries. More recently, these unique materials are finding their niche in neuroscience. Here, we discuss the use of carbon nanotubes as scaffolds for neuronal growth. The chemical properties of carbon nanotubes can be systematically varied by attaching different functional groups. Such functionalized carbon nanotubes can be used to control the outgrowth and branching pattern of neuronal processes. We also discuss electrical interactions between neurons and carbon nanotubes. The electrical properties of nanotubes can provide a mechanism to monitor or stimulate neurons through the scaffold itself. The ease of which carbon nanotubes can be patterned makes them attractive for studying the organization of neural networks and has the potential to develop new devices for neural prosthesis. We note that additional toxicity studies of carbon nanotubes are necessary so that exposure guidelines and safety regulations can be set.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonietta Sucapane
- Physiology and Pathology Department, B.R.A.I.N., University of Trieste, via Fleming 22, I-34127, Trieste, Italy
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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. Carbon nanotubes might improve neuronal performance by favouring electrical shortcuts. Nat Nanotechnol 2009; 4:126-33. [PMID: 19197316 DOI: 10.1038/nnano.2008.374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 313] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2008] [Accepted: 11/17/2008] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Carbon nanotubes have been applied in several areas of nerve tissue engineering to probe and augment cell behaviour, to label and track subcellular components, and to study the growth and organization of neural networks. Recent reports show that nanotubes can sustain and promote neuronal electrical activity in networks of cultured cells, but the ways in which they affect cellular function are still poorly understood. Here, we show, using single-cell electrophysiology techniques, electron microscopy analysis and theoretical modelling, that nanotubes improve the responsiveness of neurons by forming tight contacts with the cell membranes that might favour electrical shortcuts between the proximal and distal compartments of the neuron. We propose the 'electrotonic hypothesis' to explain the physical interactions between the cell and nanotube, and the mechanisms of how carbon nanotubes might affect the collective electrical activity of cultured neuronal networks. These considerations offer a perspective that would allow us to predict or engineer interactions between neurons and carbon nanotubes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giada Cellot
- Life Science Department, B.R.A.I.N., University of Trieste, via Fleming 22, I-34127, Trieste, Italy
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