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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Amoriello R, Memo C, Ballerini L, Ballerini C. The brain cytokine orchestra in multiple sclerosis: from neuroinflammation to synaptopathology. Mol Brain 2024; 17:4. [PMID: 38263055 PMCID: PMC10807071 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-024-01077-7] [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: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The central nervous system (CNS) is finely protected by the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Immune soluble factors such as cytokines (CKs) are normally produced in the CNS, contributing to physiological immunosurveillance and homeostatic synaptic scaling. CKs are peptide, pleiotropic molecules involved in a broad range of cellular functions, with a pivotal role in resolving the inflammation and promoting tissue healing. However, pro-inflammatory CKs can exert a detrimental effect in pathological conditions, spreading the damage. In the inflamed CNS, CKs recruit immune cells, stimulate the local production of other inflammatory mediators, and promote synaptic dysfunction. Our understanding of neuroinflammation in humans owes much to the study of multiple sclerosis (MS), the most common autoimmune and demyelinating disease, in which autoreactive T cells migrate from the periphery to the CNS after the encounter with a still unknown antigen. CNS-infiltrating T cells produce pro-inflammatory CKs that aggravate local demyelination and neurodegeneration. This review aims to recapitulate the state of the art about CKs role in the healthy and inflamed CNS, with focus on recent advances bridging the study of adaptive immune system and neurophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Amoriello
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136, Trieste, Italy.
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, University of Florence, 50139, Florence, Italy.
| | - Christian Memo
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, University of Florence, 50139, Florence, Italy
| | - Laura Ballerini
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, University of Florence, 50139, Florence, Italy
| | - Clara Ballerini
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136, Trieste, Italy.
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4
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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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5
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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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6
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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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7
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Cortés-Llanos B, Rauti R, Ayuso-Sacido Á, Pérez L, Ballerini L. Impact of Magnetite Nanowires on In Vitro Hippocampal Neural Networks. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13050783. [PMID: 37238653 DOI: 10.3390/biom13050783] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Nanomaterials design, synthesis, and characterization are ever-expanding approaches toward developing biodevices or neural interfaces to treat neurological diseases. The ability of nanomaterials features to tune neuronal networks' morphology or functionality is still under study. In this work, we unveil how interfacing mammalian brain cultured neurons and iron oxide nanowires' (NWs) orientation affect neuronal and glial densities and network activity. Iron oxide NWs were synthesized by electrodeposition, fixing the diameter to 100 nm and the length to 1 µm. Scanning electron microscopy, Raman, and contact angle measurements were performed to characterize the NWs' morphology, chemical composition, and hydrophilicity. Hippocampal cultures were seeded on NWs devices, and after 14 days, the cell morphology was studied by immunocytochemistry and confocal microscopy. Live calcium imaging was performed to study neuronal activity. Using random nanowires (R-NWs), higher neuronal and glial cell densities were obtained compared with the control and vertical nanowires (V-NWs), while using V-NWs, more stellate glial cells were found. R-NWs produced a reduction in neuronal activity, while V-NWs increased the neuronal network activity, possibly due to a higher neuronal maturity and a lower number of GABAergic neurons, respectively. These results highlight the potential of NWs manipulations to design ad hoc regenerative interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belén Cortés-Llanos
- Departamento de Física de Materiales, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Fundación IMDEA Nanociencia, C/Faraday 9, 28049 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC 27705, USA
| | - Rossana Rauti
- International School for Advanced Studies (ISAS-SISSA), 34136 Trieste, Italy
- Deparment of Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Urbino Carlo Bo, 61029 Urbino, Italy
| | - Ángel Ayuso-Sacido
- Brain Tumor Laboratory, Fundación Vithas, Grupo Hospitales Vithas, 28043 Madrid, Spain
- Faculty of Experimental Science and Faculty of Medicine, University of Francisco de Vitoria, 28223 Madrid, Spain
| | - Lucas Pérez
- Departamento de Física de Materiales, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Fundación IMDEA Nanociencia, C/Faraday 9, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Ballerini
- International School for Advanced Studies (ISAS-SISSA), 34136 Trieste, Italy
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8
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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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9
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Vera A, Martínez I, Enger LG, Guillet B, Guerrero R, Diez JM, Rousseau O, Lam Chok Sing M, Pierron V, Perna P, Hernández JJ, Rodríguez I, Calaresu I, Meier A, Huck C, Domínguez-Bajo A, González-Mayorga A, López-Dolado E, Serrano MC, Ballerini L, Pérez L, Miranda R, Flament S, González MT, Méchin L, Camarero J. High-Performance Implantable Sensors based on Anisotropic Magnetoresistive La 0.67Sr 0.33MnO 3 for Biomedical Applications. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2023; 9:1020-1029. [PMID: 36720461 PMCID: PMC9930082 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.2c01147] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
We present the design, fabrication, and characterization of an implantable neural interface based on anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR) magnetic-field sensors that combine reduced size and high performance at body temperature. The sensors are based on La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 (LSMO) as a ferromagnetic material, whose epitaxial growth has been suitably engineered to get uniaxial anisotropy and large AMR output together with low noise even at low frequencies. The performance of LSMO sensors of different film thickness and at different temperatures close to 37 °C has to be explored to find an optimum sensitivity of ∼400%/T (with typical detectivity values of 2 nT·Hz-1/2 at a frequency of 1 Hz and 0.3 nT·Hz-1/2 at 1 kHz), fitted for the detection of low magnetic signals coming from neural activity. Biocompatibility tests of devices consisting of submillimeter-size LSMO sensors coated by a thin poly(dimethyl siloxane) polymeric layer, both in vitro and in vivo, support their high suitability as implantable detectors of low-frequency biological magnetic signals emerging from heterogeneous electrically active tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arturo Vera
- Fundación
IMDEA Nanociencia, Calle
Faraday 9, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Isidoro Martínez
- Fundación
IMDEA Nanociencia, Calle
Faraday 9, Madrid 28049, Spain,Faculty
of Experimental Sciences, Universidad Francisco
de Vitoria, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid 28223, Spain
| | | | - Bruno Guillet
- Normandie
University, UNICAEN, ENSICAEN, CNRS, GREYC, Caen 14000, France
| | - Rubén Guerrero
- Fundación
IMDEA Nanociencia, Calle
Faraday 9, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - José Manuel Diez
- Fundación
IMDEA Nanociencia, Calle
Faraday 9, Madrid 28049, Spain,Departamento
Física de la Materia Condensada, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Olivier Rousseau
- Normandie
University, UNICAEN, ENSICAEN, CNRS, GREYC, Caen 14000, France
| | - Marc Lam Chok Sing
- Normandie
University, UNICAEN, ENSICAEN, CNRS, GREYC, Caen 14000, France
| | - Victor Pierron
- Normandie
University, UNICAEN, ENSICAEN, CNRS, GREYC, Caen 14000, France
| | - Paolo Perna
- Fundación
IMDEA Nanociencia, Calle
Faraday 9, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | | | - Isabel Rodríguez
- Fundación
IMDEA Nanociencia, Calle
Faraday 9, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Ivo Calaresu
- International
School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), Via Bonomea 265, Trieste 34136, Italy
| | - Anja Meier
- mfd-Diagnostics
GmbH, Mikroforum Ring
5, Wendelsheim 55234, Germany
| | - Carmen Huck
- mfd-Diagnostics
GmbH, Mikroforum Ring
5, Wendelsheim 55234, Germany
| | - Ana Domínguez-Bajo
- Instituto
de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid (ICMM), CSIC, Calle Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz 3, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | | | - Elisa López-Dolado
- Hospital
Nacional de Parapléjicos, SESCAM, Finca La Peraleda s/n, Toledo 45071, Spain,Research
Unit of “Design and Development of Biomaterials for Neural
Regeneration”, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, Joint
Research Unit with CSIC, Toledo 45071, Spain
| | - María C. Serrano
- Instituto
de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid (ICMM), CSIC, Calle Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz 3, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Laura Ballerini
- International
School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), Via Bonomea 265, Trieste 34136, Italy
| | - Lucas Pérez
- Fundación
IMDEA Nanociencia, Calle
Faraday 9, Madrid 28049, Spain,Dept.
Física de Materiales, Universidad
Complutense, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Rodolfo Miranda
- Fundación
IMDEA Nanociencia, Calle
Faraday 9, Madrid 28049, Spain,Departamento
Física de la Materia Condensada, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid 28049, Spain,Instituto
“Nicolás Cabrera” and Condensed Matter
Physics Center (IFIMAC), Universidad Autónoma
de Madrid, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Stéphane Flament
- Normandie
University, UNICAEN, ENSICAEN, CNRS, GREYC, Caen 14000, France
| | | | - Laurence Méchin
- Normandie
University, UNICAEN, ENSICAEN, CNRS, GREYC, Caen 14000, France
| | - Julio Camarero
- Fundación
IMDEA Nanociencia, Calle
Faraday 9, Madrid 28049, Spain,Departamento
Física de la Materia Condensada, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid 28049, Spain,Instituto
“Nicolás Cabrera” and Condensed Matter
Physics Center (IFIMAC), Universidad Autónoma
de Madrid, Madrid 28049, Spain
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10
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Barrejón M, Zummo F, Mikhalchan A, Vilatela JJ, Fontanini M, Scaini D, Ballerini L, Prato M. TEGylated Double-Walled Carbon Nanotubes as Platforms to Engineer Neuronal Networks. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2023; 15:77-90. [PMID: 36270018 PMCID: PMC9837783 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c16808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
In the past two decades, important results have been obtained on the application of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as components of smart interfaces promoting neuronal growth and differentiation. Different forms of CNTs have been employed as scaffolds, including raw CNTs and functionalized CNTs, characterized by a different number of walls, mainly single-walled CNTs (SWCNTs) or multiwalled CNTs (MWCNTs). However, double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs), which present interesting electronic and transport properties, have barely been studied in the field. Apart from the electrical conductivity, the morphology, shape, porosity, and corresponding mechanical properties of the scaffold material are important parameters when dealing with neuronal cells. Thus, the presence of open porous and interconnected networks is essential for cell growth and differentiation. Here, we present an easy methodology to prepare porous self-standing and electrically conductive DWCNT-based scaffolds and study the growth of neuro/glial networks and their synaptic activity. A cross-linking approach with triethylene glycol (TEG) derivatives is applied to improve the tensile performance of the scaffolds while neuronal growth and differentiation are promoted. By testing different DWCNT-based constructs, we confirm that the manufactured structures guarantee a biocompatible scaffold, while favoring the design of artificial networks with high complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myriam Barrejón
- Department
of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, INSTM, UdR Trieste, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri 1, Trieste34127, Italy
- Neural
Repair and Biomaterials Laboratory, Hospital
Nacional de Parapléjicos (SESCAM), Finca la Peraleda s/n, Toledo45071, Spain
| | - Francesca Zummo
- International
School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), Trieste34136, Italy
| | | | | | - Mario Fontanini
- International
School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), Trieste34136, Italy
| | - Denis Scaini
- International
School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), Trieste34136, Italy
- Basque
Foundation for Science, Ikerbasque, Bilbao48013, Spain
- University
of Basque Country, Faculty of Pharmacy, Paseo de la Universidad 7, Vitoria-Gasteiz01006, Spain
| | - Laura Ballerini
- International
School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), Trieste34136, Italy
| | - Maurizio Prato
- Department
of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, INSTM, UdR Trieste, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri 1, Trieste34127, Italy
- Basque
Foundation for Science, Ikerbasque, Bilbao48013, Spain
- Center for
Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Paseo de Miramon 194, Donostia
San Sebastián20014, Spain
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11
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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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12
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Thalhammer A, Fontanini M, Shi J, Scaini D, Recupero L, Evtushenko A, Fu Y, Pavagada S, Bistrovic-Popov A, Fruk L, Tian B, Ballerini L. Distributed interfacing by nanoscale photodiodes enables single-neuron light activation and sensory enhancement in 3D spinal explants. Sci Adv 2022; 8:eabp9257. [PMID: 35960795 PMCID: PMC9374338 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abp9257] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Among emerging technologies developed to interface neuronal signaling, engineering electrodes at the nanoscale would yield more precise biodevices opening to progress in neural circuit investigations and to new therapeutic potential. Despite remarkable progress in miniature electronics for less invasive neurostimulation, most nano-enabled, optically triggered interfaces are demonstrated in cultured cells, which precludes the studies of natural neural circuits. We exploit here free-standing silicon-based nanoscale photodiodes to optically modulate single, identified neurons in mammalian spinal cord explants. With near-infrared light stimulation, we show that activating single excitatory or inhibitory neurons differently affects sensory circuits processing in the dorsal horn. We successfully functionalize nano-photodiodes to target single molecules, such as glutamate AMPA receptor subunits, thus enabling light activation of specific synaptic pathways. We conclude that nano-enabled neural interfaces can modulate selected sensory networks with low invasiveness. The use of nanoscale photodiodes can thus provide original perspective in linking neural activity to specific behavioral outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes Thalhammer
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Mario Fontanini
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Jiuyun Shi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Denis Scaini
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy
- Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Area Science Park, I-34149 Trieste, Italy
- Basque Foundation for Science, Ikerbasque, Bilbao 48013, Spain
- Universidad del País Vasco (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Luca Recupero
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Alexander Evtushenko
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ying Fu
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Suraj Pavagada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Andrea Bistrovic-Popov
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ljiljana Fruk
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Bozhi Tian
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Laura Ballerini
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy
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13
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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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14
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Dinesh B, Medelin M, Scaini D, Lareno Faccini F, Quici F, Ballerini L, Bianco A. Correction to Hybrid Interfaces Made of Nanotubes and Backbone-Altered Dipeptides Tune Neuronal Network Architecture. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:4367. [PMID: 34710324 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00689] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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15
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Panattoni G, Amoriello R, Memo C, Thalhammer A, Ballerini C, Ballerini L. Diverse inflammatory threats modulate astrocytes Ca 2+ signaling via connexin43 hemichannels in organotypic spinal slices. Mol Brain 2021; 14:159. [PMID: 34696792 PMCID: PMC8547100 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-021-00868-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [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: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation is an escalation factor shared by a vast range of central nervous system (CNS) pathologies, from neurodegenerative diseases to neuropsychiatric disorders. CNS immune status emerges by the integration of the responses of resident and not resident cells, leading to alterations in neural circuits functions. To explore spinal cord astrocyte reactivity to inflammatory threats we focused our study on the effects of local inflammation in a controlled micro-environment, the organotypic spinal slices, developed from the spinal cord of mouse embryos. These organ cultures represent a complex in vitro model where sensory-motor cytoarchitecture, synaptic properties and spinal cord resident cells, are retained in a 3D fashion and we recently exploit these cultures to model two diverse immune conditions in the CNS, involving different inflammatory networks and products. Here, we specifically focus on the tuning of calcium signaling in astrocytes by these diverse types of inflammation and we investigate the mechanisms which modulate intracellular calcium release and its spreading among astrocytes in the inflamed environment. Organotypic spinal cord slices are cultured for two or three weeks in vitro (WIV) and exposed for 6 h to a cocktail of cytokines (CKs), composed by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 β) and granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), or to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). By live calcium imaging of the ventral horn, we document an increase in active astrocytes and in the occurrence of spontaneous calcium oscillations displayed by these cells when exposed to each inflammatory threat. Through several pharmacological treatments, we demonstrate that intracellular calcium sources and the activation of connexin 43 (Cx43) hemichannels have a pivotal role in increasing calcium intercellular communication in both CKs and LPS conditions, while the Cx43 gap junction communication is apparently reduced by the inflammatory treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Panattoni
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136, Trieste, Italy
| | - Roberta Amoriello
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136, Trieste, Italy.,Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, University of Florence, 50139, Florence, Italy
| | - Christian Memo
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136, Trieste, Italy
| | - Agnes Thalhammer
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136, Trieste, Italy
| | - Clara Ballerini
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, University of Florence, 50139, Florence, Italy.
| | - Laura Ballerini
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136, Trieste, Italy.
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16
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Hamilton O, Cox SR, Ballerini L, Bastin ME, Corley J, Gow AJ, Muñoz Maniega S, Redmond P, Valdés Hernández MDC, Wardlaw JM, Deary IJ. Associations between total MRI-visible small vessel disease burden and domain-specific cognitive abilities in a community-dwelling older-age cohort. Neurobiol Aging 2021; 105:25-34. [PMID: 34022536 PMCID: PMC8345313 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2021.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) is a leading cause of vascular cognitive impairment, however the precise nature of SVD-related cognitive deficits, and their associations with structural brain changes, remain unclear. We combined computational volumes and visually-rated MRI markers of SVD to quantify total SVD burden, using data from the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 (n = 540; age: 72.6 ± 0.7 years). We found negative associations between total SVD burden and general cognitive ability (standardized β: -0.363; 95%CI: [-0.49, -0.23]; p(FDR) < 0.001), processing speed (-0.371 [-0.50, -0.24]; p(FDR) < 0.001), verbal memory (-0.265; [-0.42, -0.11]; p(FDR) = 0.002), and visuospatial ability (-0.170; [-0.32, -0.02]; p(FDR) = 0.029). Only the association between SVD burden and processing speed remained after accounting for covariance with general cognitive ability (-0.325; [-0.61, -0.04]; p(FDR) = 0.029). This suggests that SVD's association with poorer processing speed is not driven by, but is independent of its association with poorer general cognitive ability. Tests of processing speed may be particularly sensitive to the cognitive impact of SVD, but all major cognitive domains should be tested to determine the full range of SVD-related cognitive characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Okl Hamilton
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Chancellor's Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, UK, EH16 4SB; Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Chancellor's Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, UK, EH16 4SB; Lothian Birth Cohorts, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, UK, EH8 9JZ
| | - S R Cox
- Lothian Birth Cohorts, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, UK, EH8 9JZ
| | - L Ballerini
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Chancellor's Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, UK, EH16 4SB; Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Chancellor's Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, UK, EH16 4SB; Lothian Birth Cohorts, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, UK, EH8 9JZ
| | - M E Bastin
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Chancellor's Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, UK, EH16 4SB; Lothian Birth Cohorts, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, UK, EH8 9JZ
| | - J Corley
- Lothian Birth Cohorts, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, UK, EH8 9JZ
| | - A J Gow
- Department of Psychology and the Centre for Applied Behavioural Sciences, School of Social Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK, EH14 4AS
| | - S Muñoz Maniega
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Chancellor's Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, UK, EH16 4SB; Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Chancellor's Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, UK, EH16 4SB; Lothian Birth Cohorts, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, UK, EH8 9JZ
| | - P Redmond
- Lothian Birth Cohorts, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, UK, EH8 9JZ
| | - M Del C Valdés Hernández
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Chancellor's Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, UK, EH16 4SB; Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Chancellor's Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, UK, EH16 4SB
| | - J M Wardlaw
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Chancellor's Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, UK, EH16 4SB; Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Chancellor's Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, UK, EH16 4SB; Lothian Birth Cohorts, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, UK, EH8 9JZ.
| | - I J Deary
- Lothian Birth Cohorts, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, UK, EH8 9JZ.
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17
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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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18
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Ballerini L, Bergh SI. Using citizen science data to monitor the Sustainable Development Goals: a bottom-up analysis. Sustain Sci 2021; 16:1945-1962. [PMID: 34316319 PMCID: PMC8298195 DOI: 10.1007/s11625-021-01001-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Official data are not sufficient for monitoring the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): they do not reach remote locations or marginalized populations and can be manipulated by governments. Citizen science data (CSD), defined as data that citizens voluntarily gather by employing a wide range of technologies and methodologies, could help to tackle these problems and ultimately improve SDG monitoring. However, the link between CSD and the SDGs is still understudied. This article aims to develop an empirical understanding of the CSD-SDG link by focusing on the perspective of projects which employ CSD. Specifically, the article presents primary and secondary qualitative data collected on 30 of these projects and an explorative comparative case study analysis. It finds that projects which use CSD recognize that the SDGs can provide a valuable framework and legitimacy, as well as attract funding, visibility, and partnerships. But, at the same time, the article reveals that these projects also encounter several barriers with respect to the SDGs: a widespread lack of knowledge of the goals, combined with frustration and political resistance towards the UN, may deter these projects from contributing their data to the SDG monitoring apparatus. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11625-021-01001-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Ballerini
- Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Sylvia I. Bergh
- The Hague University of Applied Sciences, The Hague, The Netherlands
- International Institute of Social Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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19
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Musto M, Parisse P, Pachetti M, Memo C, Di Mauro G, Ballesteros B, Lozano N, Kostarelos K, Casalis L, Ballerini L. Corrigendum to Shedding plasma membrane vesicles induced by graphene oxide nanoflakes in brain cultured astrocytes [CARBON 176 (2021) 458–469]. Carbon 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2021.04.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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20
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Musto M, Parisse P, Pachetti M, Memo C, Di Mauro G, Ballesteros B, Lozano N, Kostarelos K, Casalis L, Ballerini L. Shedding plasma membrane vesicles induced by graphene oxide nanoflakes in brain cultured astrocytes. Carbon 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2021.01.142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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21
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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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22
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Domínguez-Bajo A, Rodilla BL, Calaresu I, Arché-Núñez A, González-Mayorga A, Scaini D, Pérez L, Camarero J, Miranda R, López-Dolado E, González MT, Ballerini L, Serrano MC. Interfacing Neurons with Nanostructured Electrodes Modulates Synaptic Circuit Features. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 4:e2000117. [PMID: 32761896 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202000117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Understanding neural physiopathology requires advances in nanotechnology-based interfaces, engineered to monitor the functional state of mammalian nervous cells. Such interfaces typically contain nanometer-size features for stimulation and recording as in cell-non-invasive extracellular microelectrode arrays. In such devices, it turns crucial to understand specific interactions of neural cells with physicochemical features of electrodes, which could be designed to optimize performance. Herein, versatile flexible nanostructured electrodes covered by arrays of metallic nanowires are fabricated and used to investigate the role of chemical composition and nanotopography on rat brain cells in vitro. By using Au and Ni as exemplary materials, nanostructure and chemical composition are demonstrated to play major roles in the interaction of neural cells with electrodes. Nanostructured devices are interfaced to rat embryonic cortical cells and postnatal hippocampal neurons forming synaptic circuits. It is shown that Au-based electrodes behave similarly to controls. Contrarily, Ni-based nanostructured electrodes increase cell survival, boost neuronal differentiation, and reduce glial cells with respect to flat counterparts. Nonetheless, Au-based electrodes perform superiorly compared to Ni-based ones. Under electrical stimulation, Au-based nanostructured substrates evoke intracellular calcium dynamics compatible with neural networks activation. These studies highlight the opportunity for these electrodes to excite a silent neural network by direct neuronal membranes depolarization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Domínguez-Bajo
- Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid (ICMM), CSIC, Calle Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz 3, Madrid, 28049, Spain
| | - Beatriz Loreto Rodilla
- Fundación IMDEA Nanociencia, Calle Faraday 9, Madrid, 28049, Spain.,International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), Via Bonomea 265, Trieste, 34136, Italy
| | - Ivo Calaresu
- Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, SESCAM, Finca La Peraleda s/n, Toledo, 45071, Spain
| | - Ana Arché-Núñez
- Fundación IMDEA Nanociencia, Calle Faraday 9, Madrid, 28049, Spain
| | - Ankor González-Mayorga
- Instituto "Nicolas Cabrera" and Condensed Matter Physics Center (IFIMAC), Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (UAM), Campus de Cantoblanco, Madrid, 28049, Spain
| | - Denis Scaini
- Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, SESCAM, Finca La Peraleda s/n, Toledo, 45071, Spain
| | - Lucas Pérez
- Fundación IMDEA Nanociencia, Calle Faraday 9, Madrid, 28049, Spain.,International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), Via Bonomea 265, Trieste, 34136, Italy
| | - Julio Camarero
- Fundación IMDEA Nanociencia, Calle Faraday 9, Madrid, 28049, Spain.,Departamento de Física de Materiales, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Plaza de las Ciencias s/n, Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - Rodolfo Miranda
- Fundación IMDEA Nanociencia, Calle Faraday 9, Madrid, 28049, Spain.,Departamento de Física de Materiales, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Plaza de las Ciencias s/n, Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - Elisa López-Dolado
- Instituto "Nicolas Cabrera" and Condensed Matter Physics Center (IFIMAC), Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (UAM), Campus de Cantoblanco, Madrid, 28049, Spain.,Research Unit of "Design and development of biomaterials for neural regeneration", Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, Joint Research Unit with CSIC, Toledo, 45071, Spain
| | | | - Laura Ballerini
- Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, SESCAM, Finca La Peraleda s/n, Toledo, 45071, Spain
| | - María Concepción Serrano
- Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid (ICMM), CSIC, Calle Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz 3, Madrid, 28049, Spain
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23
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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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24
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Manzati M, Sorbo T, Giugliano M, Ballerini L. Foetal neural progenitors contribute to postnatal circuits formation ex vivo: an electrophysiological investigation. Mol Brain 2020; 13:78. [PMID: 32430072 PMCID: PMC7236481 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-020-00619-z] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuronal progenitor cells (NPC) play an essential role in homeostasis of the central nervous system (CNS). Considering their ability to differentiate into specific lineages, their manipulation and control could have a major therapeutic impact for those CNS injuries or degenerative diseases characterized by neuronal cell loss. In this work, we established an in vitro co-culture and tested the ability of foetal NPC (fNPC) to integrate among post-mitotic hippocampal neurons and contribute to the electrical activity of the resulting networks. We performed extracellular electrophysiological recordings of the activity of neuronal networks and compared the properties of spontaneous spiking in hippocampal control cultures (HCC), fNPC, and mixed circuitries ex vivo. We further employed patch-clamp intracellular recordings to examine single-cell excitability. We report of the capability of fNPC to mature when combined to hippocampal neurons, shaping the profile of network activity, a result suggestive of newly formed connectivity ex vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Manzati
- Neuron Physiology and Technology Lab, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Neuroscience, Via Bonomea 265, I-34136, Trieste, Italy.,Neuronal Dynamics Lab, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Neuroscience, Via Bonomea 265, I-34136, Trieste, Italy
| | - Teresa Sorbo
- Neuron Physiology and Technology Lab, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Neuroscience, Via Bonomea 265, I-34136, Trieste, Italy
| | - Michele Giugliano
- Neuronal Dynamics Lab, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Neuroscience, Via Bonomea 265, I-34136, Trieste, Italy. .,Department of Biomedical Sciences and Institute Born-Bunge, Universiteit Antwerpen, B-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.
| | - Laura Ballerini
- Neuron Physiology and Technology Lab, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Neuroscience, Via Bonomea 265, I-34136, Trieste, Italy.
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25
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Tigani W, Rossi MP, Artimagnella O, Santo M, Rauti R, Sorbo T, Ulloa Severino FP, Provenzano G, Allegra M, Caleo M, Ballerini L, Bozzi Y, Mallamaci A. Foxg1 Upregulation Enhances Neocortical Activity. Cereb Cortex 2020; 30:5147-5165. [PMID: 32383447 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [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: 02/20/2020] [Revised: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Foxg1 is an ancient transcription factor gene orchestrating a number of neurodevelopmental processes taking place in the rostral brain. In this study, we investigated its impact on neocortical activity. We found that mice overexpressing Foxg1 in neocortical pyramidal cells displayed an electroencephalography (EEG) with increased spike frequency and were more prone to kainic acid (KA)-induced seizures. Consistently, primary cultures of neocortical neurons gain-of-function for Foxg1 were hyperactive and hypersynchronized. That reflected an unbalanced expression of key genes encoding for ion channels, gamma aminobutyric acid and glutamate receptors, and was likely exacerbated by a pronounced interneuron depletion. We also detected a transient Foxg1 upregulation ignited in turn by neuronal activity and mediated by immediate early genes. Based on this, we propose that even small changes of Foxg1 levels may result in a profound impact on pyramidal cell activity, an issue relevant to neuronal physiology and neurological aberrancies associated to FOXG1 copy number variations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendalina Tigani
- Laboratory of Cerebral Cortex Development, Neuroscience Area, SISSA, Trieste 34136, Italy
| | - Moira Pinzan Rossi
- Laboratory of Cerebral Cortex Development, Neuroscience Area, SISSA, Trieste 34136, Italy.,AgenTus Therapeutics, Inc., Cambridge CB4 OWG, United Kingdom
| | - Osvaldo Artimagnella
- Laboratory of Cerebral Cortex Development, Neuroscience Area, SISSA, Trieste 34136, Italy
| | - Manuela Santo
- Laboratory of Cerebral Cortex Development, Neuroscience Area, SISSA, Trieste 34136, Italy
| | - Rossana Rauti
- Laboratory of Neurons and Nanomaterials, Neuroscience Area, SISSA, Trieste 34136, Italy.,Dept. Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Teresa Sorbo
- Laboratory of Neurons and Nanomaterials, Neuroscience Area, SISSA, Trieste 34136, Italy
| | - Francesco Paolo Ulloa Severino
- Laboratory of Bionanotechnologies, Neuroscience Area, SISSA, Trieste 34136, Italy.,Cell Biology Dept, Duke University Medical Center, Duke University, Durham NC-27710, USA
| | - Giovanni Provenzano
- Department of Cellular, Computational, and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento 38123, Italy
| | - Manuela Allegra
- Neuroscience Institute, Neurophysiology Section, National Research Council (CNR), Pisa 56124, Italy.,Laboratory G5 Circuits Neuronaux, Institut Pasteur, Paris 75015, France
| | - Matteo Caleo
- Neuroscience Institute, Neurophysiology Section, National Research Council (CNR), Pisa 56124, Italy.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua 35121, Italy
| | - Laura Ballerini
- Laboratory of Neurons and Nanomaterials, Neuroscience Area, SISSA, Trieste 34136, Italy
| | - Yuri Bozzi
- Neuroscience Institute, Neurophysiology Section, National Research Council (CNR), Pisa 56124, Italy.,Center for Mind/Brain Sciences, University of Trento, Trento 38068, Italy
| | - Antonello Mallamaci
- Laboratory of Cerebral Cortex Development, Neuroscience Area, SISSA, Trieste 34136, Italy
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26
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Finetti F, Capitani N, Manganaro N, Tatangelo V, Libonati F, Panattoni G, Calaresu I, Ballerini L, Baldari CT, Patrussi L. Optimization of Organotypic Cultures of Mouse Spleen for Staining and Functional Assays. Front Immunol 2020; 11:471. [PMID: 32265925 PMCID: PMC7105700 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
By preserving cell viability and three-dimensional localization, organotypic culture stands out among the newest frontiers of cell culture. It has been successfully employed for the study of diseases among which neoplasias, where tumoral cells take advantage of the surrounding stroma to promote their own proliferation and survival. Organotypic culture acquires major importance in the context of the immune system, whose cells cross-talk in a complex and dynamic fashion to elicit productive responses. However, organotypic culture has been as yet poorly developed for and applied to primary and secondary lymphoid organs. Here we describe in detail the development of a protocol suitable for the efficient cutting of mouse spleen, which overcomes technical difficulties related to the peculiar organ texture, and for optimized organotypic culture of spleen slices. Moreover, we used microscopy, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, and qRT-PCR to demonstrate that the majority of cells residing in spleen slices remain alive and maintain their original location in the organ architecture for several days after cutting. The development of this protocol represents a significant technical improvement in the study of the lymphoid microenvironment in both physiological and pathological conditions involving the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nagaja Capitani
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Noemi Manganaro
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | | | | | - Giulia Panattoni
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), Trieste, Italy
| | - Ivo Calaresu
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), Trieste, Italy
| | - Laura Ballerini
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Laura Patrussi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
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27
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Rauti R, Secomandi N, Martín C, Bosi S, Severino FPU, Scaini D, Prato M, Vázquez E, Ballerini L. Tuning Neuronal Circuit Formation in 3D Polymeric Scaffolds by Introducing Graphene at the Bio/Material Interface. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 4:e1900233. [DOI: 10.1002/adbi.201900233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 01/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rossana Rauti
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS) Trieste 34136 Italy
| | - Nicola Secomandi
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS) Trieste 34136 Italy
- Instituto Regional de Investigación Científica Aplicada (IRICA) Universidad de Castilla‐La Mancha Avda Camilo José Cela 13071 Ciudad Real Spain
| | - Cristina Martín
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Università degli Studi di Trieste Via Licio Giorgieri 1 Trieste 34127 Italy
- Carbon Bionanotechnology Group CIC biomaGUNE Paseo Miramón 182 San Sebastián 20014 Guipúzcoa Spain
| | - Susanna Bosi
- Carbon Bionanotechnology Group CIC biomaGUNE Paseo Miramón 182 San Sebastián 20014 Guipúzcoa Spain
| | | | - Denis Scaini
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS) Trieste 34136 Italy
- Basque Foundation for Science Ikerbasque Bilbao 48013 Spain
| | - Maurizio Prato
- Carbon Bionanotechnology Group CIC biomaGUNE Paseo Miramón 182 San Sebastián 20014 Guipúzcoa Spain
- Faculty of Chemical Science and Technology Universidad de Castilla‐La Mancha 13071 Ciudad Real Spain
| | - Ester Vázquez
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Università degli Studi di Trieste Via Licio Giorgieri 1 Trieste 34127 Italy
| | - Laura Ballerini
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS) Trieste 34136 Italy
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28
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Opris I, Ionescu SC, Lebedev MA, Boy F, Lewinski P, Ballerini L. Editorial: Application of Neural Technology to Neuro-Management and Neuro-Marketing. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:53. [PMID: 32116504 PMCID: PMC7034133 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ioan Opris
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States
| | - Sorin Cristian Ionescu
- Faculty of Entrepreneurship, Business Engineering and Management, Politehnica University, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Mikhail A Lebedev
- Duke Center for Neuroengineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States.,Center for Bioelectric Interfaces of the Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia.,Department of Information and Internet Technologies of Digital Health Institute, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Frederic Boy
- Innovation Lab (iLab), Department of Business, School of Management, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom.,Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London (UCL), London, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Lewinski
- Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Ballerini
- Neuroscience Area, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
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29
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Dinesh B, Medelin M, Scaini D, Lareno Faccini F, Quici F, Ballerini L, Bianco A. Hybrid Interfaces Made of Nanotubes and Backbone-Altered Dipeptides Tune Neuronal Network Architecture. ACS Chem Neurosci 2020; 11:162-172. [PMID: 31854971 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.9b00522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptides constituted of backbone homologated α-amino acids combined with carbon materials offer interesting possibilities in the modulation of cellular functions. In this work, we have prepared diphenylalanine β- and γ-peptides and conjugated them to carbon nanotubes (CNTs). These hybrids were able to self-assemble into fibrillar dendritic structures enabling the growth of primary hippocampal cells and the modulation of their neuronal functions. In particular, following the deposition of the different nanomaterials on glass substrates, we have evaluated their effects on circuit function and geometry. The geometrical restrictions due to CNT nucleated nodes allowed growth of neuronal networks with control over network geometry, and exploring its functional impact. In diverse applications from basic neuroscience, the presence of CNT nodes may be exploited in brain interfaces able to convey highly localized electrical stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhimareddy Dinesh
- CNRS, Immunology, Immunopathology and Therapeutic Chemistry, UPR 3572, University of Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Manuela Medelin
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Denis Scaini
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136 Trieste, Italy
- ELETTRA Sincrotrone Trieste S.c.p.A., 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Federica Quici
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Laura Ballerini
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Alberto Bianco
- CNRS, Immunology, Immunopathology and Therapeutic Chemistry, UPR 3572, University of Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
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30
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Ballerini L. Meet Our Editorial Board Member. Curr Neuropharmacol 2019. [DOI: 10.2174/1570159x1712191028162518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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31
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Abstract
In recent years, the use of free-standing carbon nanotube (CNT) films for neural tissue engineering has attracted tremendous attention. CNT films show large surface area and high electrical conductivity that combined with flexibility and biocompatibility may promote neuron growth and differentiation while stimulating neural activity. In addition, adhesion, survival, and growth of neurons can be modulated through chemical modification of CNTs. Axonal and synaptic signaling can also be positively tuned by these materials. Here we describe the ability of free-standing CNT films to influence neuronal activity. We demonstrate that the degree of cross-linking between the CNTs has a strong impact on the electrical conductivity of the substrate, which, in turn, regulates neural circuit outputs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myriam Barrejón
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences , Università degli Studi di Trieste , Via Licio Giorgieri 1 , Trieste 34127 , Italy
| | - Rossana Rauti
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS) , Trieste 34136 , Italy
| | - Laura Ballerini
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS) , Trieste 34136 , Italy
| | - Maurizio Prato
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences , Università degli Studi di Trieste , Via Licio Giorgieri 1 , Trieste 34127 , Italy
- Carbon Bionanotechnology Group , CIC biomaGUNE , Paseo Miramón 182, San Sebastián , Guipúzcoa 20014 , Spain
- Basque Foundation for Science , Ikerbasque, Bilbao 48013 , Spain
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32
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Pampaloni NP, Rago I, Calaresu I, Cozzarini L, Casalis L, Goldoni A, Ballerini L, Scaini D. Transparent carbon nanotubes promote the outgrowth of enthorino-dentate projections in lesioned organ slice cultures. Dev Neurobiol 2019; 80:316-331. [PMID: 31314946 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [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: 05/22/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The increasing engineering of carbon-based nanomaterials as components of neuroregenerative interfaces is motivated by their dimensional compatibility with subcellular compartments of excitable cells, such as axons and synapses. In neuroscience applications, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been used to improve electronic device performance by exploiting their physical properties. Besides, when manufactured to interface neuronal networks formation in vitro, CNT carpets have shown their unique ability to potentiate synaptic networks formation and function. Due to the low optical transparency of CNTs films, further developments of these materials in neural prosthesis fabrication or in implementing interfacing devices to be paired with in vivo imaging or in vitro optogenetic approaches are currently limited. In the present work, we exploit a new method to fabricate CNTs by growing them on a fused silica surface, which results in a transparent CNT-based substrate (tCNTs). We show that tCNTs favor dissociated primary neurons network formation and function, an effect comparable to the one observed for their dark counterparts. We further adopt tCNTs to support the growth of intact or lesioned entorhinal-hippocampal complex organotypic cultures (EHCs). Through immunocytochemistry and electrophysiological field potential recordings, we show here that tCNTs platforms are suitable substrates for the growth of EHCs and we unmask their ability to significantly increase the signal synchronization and fiber sprouting between the cortex and the hippocampus with respect to Controls. tCNTs transparency and ability to enhance recovery of lesioned brain cultures, make them optimal candidates to implement implantable devices in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ilaria Rago
- Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste, Trieste, Italy.,Department of Physics, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Ivo Calaresu
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Luca Cozzarini
- Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste, Trieste, Italy.,Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | | | | | - Laura Ballerini
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Denis Scaini
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy.,Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste, Trieste, Italy
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Giacco V, Panattoni G, Medelin M, Bonechi E, Aldinucci A, Ballerini C, Ballerini L. Cytokine inflammatory threat, but not LPS one, shortens GABAergic synaptic currents in the mouse spinal cord organotypic cultures. J Neuroinflammation 2019; 16:127. [PMID: 31238967 PMCID: PMC6593520 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-019-1519-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [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: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Synaptic dysfunction, named synaptopathy, due to inflammatory status of the central nervous system (CNS) is a recognized factor potentially underlying both motor and cognitive dysfunctions in neurodegenerative diseases. To gain knowledge on the mechanistic interplay between local inflammation and synapse changes, we compared two diverse inflammatory paradigms, a cytokine cocktail (CKs; IL-1β, TNF-α, and GM-CSF) and LPS, and their ability to tune GABAergic current duration in spinal cord cultured circuits. Methods We exploit spinal organotypic cultures, single-cell electrophysiology, immunocytochemistry, and confocal microscopy to explore synaptic currents and resident neuroglia reactivity upon CK or LPS incubation. Results Local inflammation in slice cultures induced by CK or LPS stimulations boosts network activity; however, only CKs specifically reduced GABAergic current duration. We pharmacologically investigated the contribution of GABAAR α-subunits and suggested that a switch of GABAAR α1-subunit might have induced faster GABAAR decay time, weakening the inhibitory transmission. Conclusions Lower GABAergic current duration could contribute to providing an aberrant excitatory transmission critical for pre-motor circuit tasks and represent a specific feature of a CK cocktail able to mimic an inflammatory reaction that spreads in the CNS. Our results describe a selective mechanism that could be triggered during specific inflammatory stress. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12974-019-1519-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Giacco
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136, Trieste, Italy.,Present address: Wolfson Centre for Age Related Disease, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Giulia Panattoni
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136, Trieste, Italy
| | - Manuela Medelin
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - Elena Bonechi
- Department NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, 50139, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Clara Ballerini
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, University of Florence, 50139, Florence, Italy.
| | - Laura Ballerini
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136, Trieste, Italy.
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Rauti R, Medelin M, Newman L, Vranic S, Reina G, Bianco A, Prato M, Kostarelos K, Ballerini L. Graphene Oxide Flakes Tune Excitatory Neurotransmission in Vivo by Targeting Hippocampal Synapses. Nano Lett 2019; 19:2858-2870. [PMID: 30983361 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.8b04903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [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: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Synapses compute and transmit information to connect neural circuits and are at the basis of brain operations. Alterations in their function contribute to a vast range of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders and synapse-based therapeutic intervention, such as selective inhibition of synaptic transmission, may significantly help against serious pathologies. Graphene is a two-dimensional nanomaterial largely exploited in multiple domains of science and technology, including biomedical applications. In hippocampal neurons in culture, small graphene oxide nanosheets (s-GO) selectively depress glutamatergic activity without altering cell viability. Glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system and growing evidence suggests its involvement in neuropsychiatric disorders. Here we demonstrate that s-GO directly targets the release of presynaptic vesicle. We propose that s-GO flakes reduce the availability of transmitter, via promoting its fast release and subsequent depletion, leading to a decline ofglutamatergic neurotransmission. We injected s-GO in the hippocampus in vivo, and 48 h after surgery ex vivo patch-clamp recordings from brain slices show a significant reduction in glutamatergic synaptic activity in respect to saline injections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossana Rauti
- Neuron Physiology and Technology Lab , International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Neuroscience , 34136 Trieste Italy
| | - Manuela Medelin
- Neuron Physiology and Technology Lab , International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Neuroscience , 34136 Trieste Italy
- Life Science Department , University of Trieste , 34127 Trieste Italy
| | - Leon Newman
- Nanomedicine Lab, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, and National Graphene Institute , University of Manchester , AV Hill Building, Manchester M13 9PL , United Kingdom
| | - Sandra Vranic
- Nanomedicine Lab, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, and National Graphene Institute , University of Manchester , AV Hill Building, Manchester M13 9PL , United Kingdom
| | - Giacomo Reina
- CNRS, Immunology, Immunopathology, and Therapeutic Chemistry , University of Strasbourg , UPR 3572, 67000 Strasbourg , France
| | - Alberto Bianco
- CNRS, Immunology, Immunopathology, and Therapeutic Chemistry , University of Strasbourg , UPR 3572, 67000 Strasbourg , France
| | - Maurizio Prato
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of Trieste , 34127 Trieste , Italy
- Nanobiotechnology Laboratory , CIC biomaGUNE , 00685 San Sebastiàn , Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science , 48013 Bilbao , Spain
| | - Kostas Kostarelos
- Nanomedicine Lab, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, and National Graphene Institute , University of Manchester , AV Hill Building, Manchester M13 9PL , United Kingdom
| | - Laura Ballerini
- Neuron Physiology and Technology Lab , International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Neuroscience , 34136 Trieste Italy
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35
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Musto M, Rauti R, Rodrigues AF, Bonechi E, Ballerini C, Kostarelos K, Ballerini L. 3D Organotypic Spinal Cultures: Exploring Neuron and Neuroglia Responses Upon Prolonged Exposure to Graphene Oxide. Front Syst Neurosci 2019; 13:1. [PMID: 30733671 PMCID: PMC6354065 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2019.00001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [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: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Graphene-based nanomaterials are increasingly engineered as components of biosensors, interfaces or drug delivery platforms in neuro-repair strategies. In these developments, the mostly used derivative of graphene is graphene oxide (GO). To tailor the safe development of GO nanosheets, we need to model in vitro tissue responses, and in particular the reactivity of microglia, a sub-population of neuroglia that acts as the first active immune response, when challenged by GO. Here, we investigated central nervous system (CNS) tissue reactivity upon long-term exposure to GO nanosheets in 3D culture models. We used the mouse organotypic spinal cord cultures, ideally suited for studying long-term interference with cues delivered at controlled times and concentrations. In cultured spinal segments, the normal presence, distribution and maturation of anatomically distinct classes of neurons and resident neuroglial cells are preserved. Organotypic explants were developed for 2 weeks embedded in fibrin glue alone or presenting GO nanosheets at 10, 25 and 50 μg/mL. We addressed the impact of such treatments on premotor synaptic activity monitored by patch clamp recordings of ventral interneurons. We investigated by immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy the accompanying glial responses to GO exposure, focusing on resident microglia, tested in organotypic spinal slices and in isolated neuroglia cultures. Our results suggest that microglia reactivity to accumulation of GO flakes, maybe due to active phagocytosis, may trim down synaptic activity, although in the absence of an effective activation of inflammatory response and in the absence of neuronal cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Musto
- Neuron Physiology and Technology Lab, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Rossana Rauti
- Neuron Physiology and Technology Lab, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Artur Filipe Rodrigues
- Nanomedicine Lab, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health and National Graphene Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Elena Bonechi
- Department NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Clara Ballerini
- Laboratory of Neuroimmunology, Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, University of Firenze, Firenze, Italy
| | - Kostas Kostarelos
- Nanomedicine Lab, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health and National Graphene Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Ballerini
- Neuron Physiology and Technology Lab, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
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36
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Pampaloni NP, Giugliano M, Scaini D, Ballerini L, Rauti R. Advances in Nano Neuroscience: From Nanomaterials to Nanotools. Front Neurosci 2019; 12:953. [PMID: 30697140 PMCID: PMC6341218 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [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: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
During the last decades, neuroscientists have increasingly exploited a variety of artificial, de-novo synthesized materials with controlled nano-sized features. For instance, a renewed interest in the development of prostheses or neural interfaces was driven by the availability of novel nanomaterials that enabled the fabrication of implantable bioelectronics interfaces with reduced side effects and increased integration with the target biological tissue. The peculiar physical-chemical properties of nanomaterials have also contributed to the engineering of novel imaging devices toward sophisticated experimental settings, to smart fabricated scaffolds and microelectrodes, or other tools ultimately aimed at a better understanding of neural tissue functions. In this review, we focus on nanomaterials and specifically on carbon-based nanomaterials, such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene. While these materials raise potential safety concerns, they represent a tremendous technological opportunity for the restoration of neuronal functions. We then describe nanotools such as nanowires and nano-modified MEA for high-performance electrophysiological recording and stimulation of neuronal electrical activity. We finally focus on the fabrication of three-dimensional synthetic nanostructures, used as substrates to interface biological cells and tissues in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michele Giugliano
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Institute Born-Bunge, Molecular, Cellular, and Network Excitability, Universiteit Antwerpen, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Denis Scaini
- Neuroscience Area, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
- ELETTRA Synchrotron Light Source, Nanoinnovation Lab, Trieste, Italy
| | - Laura Ballerini
- Neuroscience Area, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Rossana Rauti
- Neuroscience Area, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
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37
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Fadeel B, Bussy C, Merino S, Vázquez E, Flahaut E, Mouchet F, Evariste L, Gauthier L, Koivisto AJ, Vogel U, Martín C, Delogu LG, Buerki-Thurnherr T, Wick P, Beloin-Saint-Pierre D, Hischier R, Pelin M, Candotto Carniel F, Tretiach M, Cesca F, Benfenati F, Scaini D, Ballerini L, Kostarelos K, Prato M, Bianco A. Safety Assessment of Graphene-Based Materials: Focus on Human Health and the Environment. ACS Nano 2018; 12:10582-10620. [PMID: 30387986 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.8b04758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 297] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.5] [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: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Graphene and its derivatives are heralded as "miracle" materials with manifold applications in different sectors of society from electronics to energy storage to medicine. The increasing exploitation of graphene-based materials (GBMs) necessitates a comprehensive evaluation of the potential impact of these materials on human health and the environment. Here, we discuss synthesis and characterization of GBMs as well as human and environmental hazard assessment of GBMs using in vitro and in vivo model systems with the aim to understand the properties that underlie the biological effects of these materials; not all GBMs are alike, and it is essential that we disentangle the structure-activity relationships for this class of materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bengt Fadeel
- Nanosafety & Nanomedicine Laboratory, Institute of Environmental Medicine , Karolinska Institutet , 17777 Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Cyrill Bussy
- Nanomedicine Laboratory, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health , University of Manchester , Manchester M13 9PL , United Kingdom
| | - Sonia Merino
- Faculty of Chemical Science and Technology , University of Castilla-La Mancha , 13071 Ciudad Real , Spain
| | - Ester Vázquez
- Faculty of Chemical Science and Technology , University of Castilla-La Mancha , 13071 Ciudad Real , Spain
| | | | | | | | - Laury Gauthier
- CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier , 31062 Toulouse , France
| | - Antti J Koivisto
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment , 2100 Copenhagen , Denmark
| | - Ulla Vogel
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment , 2100 Copenhagen , Denmark
| | - Cristina Martín
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS , Immunology, Immunopathology and Therapeutic Chemistry , 67000 Strasbourg , France
| | - Lucia G Delogu
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy University of Sassari , Sassari 7100 , Italy
- Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica , Fondazione Città della Speranza , 35129 Padova , Italy
| | - Tina Buerki-Thurnherr
- Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA) , 9014 St. Gallen , Switzerland
| | - Peter Wick
- Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA) , 9014 St. Gallen , Switzerland
| | | | - Roland Hischier
- Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA) , 9014 St. Gallen , Switzerland
| | - Marco Pelin
- Department of Life Sciences , University of Trieste , 34127 Trieste , Italy
| | | | - Mauro Tretiach
- Department of Life Sciences , University of Trieste , 34127 Trieste , Italy
| | - Fabrizia Cesca
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology , Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , 16132 Genova , Italy
| | - Fabio Benfenati
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology , Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , 16132 Genova , Italy
| | - Denis Scaini
- Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA) , 34136 Trieste , Italy
| | - Laura Ballerini
- Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA) , 34136 Trieste , Italy
| | - Kostas Kostarelos
- Nanomedicine Laboratory, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health , University of Manchester , Manchester M13 9PL , United Kingdom
| | - Maurizio Prato
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of Trieste , 34127 Trieste , Italy
- Carbon Nanobiotechnology Laboratory , CIC BiomaGUNE , 20009 San Sebastian , Spain
- Basque Foundation for Science, Ikerbasque , 48013 Bilbao , Spain
| | - Alberto Bianco
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS , Immunology, Immunopathology and Therapeutic Chemistry , 67000 Strasbourg , France
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38
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Mordi I, Palmer C, Hogg S, Wang R, Li T, Tee A, Ballerini L, MacGillivray T, McKay G, Trucco E, Lang CC, Doney A. P614Detailed retinal microvascular analysis predicts cardiovascular outcomes in diabetic patients. Eur Heart J 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehy564.p614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- I Mordi
- University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - C Palmer
- University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - S Hogg
- University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - R Wang
- University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - T Li
- University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - A Tee
- University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - L Ballerini
- University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | | | - G McKay
- Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - E Trucco
- University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - C C Lang
- University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - A Doney
- University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
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39
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Pampaloni NP, Lottner M, Giugliano M, Matruglio A, D'Amico F, Prato M, Garrido JA, Ballerini L, Scaini D. Single-layer graphene modulates neuronal communication and augments membrane ion currents. Nat Nanotechnol 2018; 13:755-764. [PMID: 29892019 DOI: 10.1038/s41565-018-0163-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The use of graphene-based materials to engineer sophisticated biosensing interfaces that can adapt to the central nervous system requires a detailed understanding of how such materials behave in a biological context. Graphene's peculiar properties can cause various cellular changes, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we show that single-layer graphene increases neuronal firing by altering membrane-associated functions in cultured cells. Graphene tunes the distribution of extracellular ions at the interface with neurons, a key regulator of neuronal excitability. The resulting biophysical changes in the membrane include stronger potassium ion currents, with a shift in the fraction of neuronal firing phenotypes from adapting to tonically firing. By using experimental and theoretical approaches, we hypothesize that the graphene-ion interactions that are maximized when single-layer graphene is deposited on electrically insulating substrates are crucial to these effects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Martin Lottner
- Walter Schottky Institut and Physik-Department, Technische Universität München, Garching, Germany
| | - Michele Giugliano
- Molecular, Cellular, and Network Excitability, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Universiteit Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Computer Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Lab of Neural Microcircuitry, Brain Mind Institute, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alessia Matruglio
- CNR-IOM-Istituto Officina dei Materiali, Trieste, Italy
- CERIC-ERIC (Central European Research Infrastructure Consortium), Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Maurizio Prato
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
- Nanobiotechnology Laboratory, CIC biomaGUNE, San Sebastiàn, Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Josè Antonio Garrido
- Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), CSIC and The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Campus UAB, Bellaterra, Spain.
- ICREA3, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Laura Ballerini
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy.
| | - Denis Scaini
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy.
- Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Trieste, Italy.
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40
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Vallejo-Giraldo C, Krukiewicz K, Calaresu I, Zhu J, Palma M, Fernandez-Yague M, McDowell B, Peixoto N, Farid N, O'Connor G, Ballerini L, Pandit A, Biggs MJP. Attenuated Glial Reactivity on Topographically Functionalized Poly(3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene):P-Toluene Sulfonate (PEDOT:PTS) Neuroelectrodes Fabricated by Microimprint Lithography. Small 2018; 14:e1800863. [PMID: 29862640 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201800863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2018] [Revised: 04/17/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Following implantation, neuroelectrode functionality is susceptible to deterioration via reactive host cell response and glial scar-induced encapsulation. Within the neuroengineering community, there is a consensus that the induction of selective adhesion and regulated cellular interaction at the tissue-electrode interface can significantly enhance device interfacing and functionality in vivo. In particular, topographical modification holds promise for the development of functionalized neural interfaces to mediate initial cell adhesion and the subsequent evolution of gliosis, minimizing the onset of a proinflammatory glial phenotype, to provide long-term stability. Herein, a low-temperature microimprint-lithography technique for the development of micro-topographically functionalized neuroelectrode interfaces in electrodeposited poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):p-toluene sulfonate (PEDOT:PTS) is described and assessed in vitro. Platinum (Pt) microelectrodes are subjected to electrodeposition of a PEDOT:PTS microcoating, which is subsequently topographically functionalized with an ordered array of micropits, inducing a significant reduction in electrode electrical impedance and an increase in charge storage capacity. Furthermore, topographically functionalized electrodes reduce the adhesion of reactive astrocytes in vitro, evident from morphological changes in cell area, focal adhesion formation, and the synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokine factors. This study contributes to the understanding of gliosis in complex primary mixed cell cultures, and describes the role of micro-topographically modified neural interfaces in the development of stable microelectrode interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catalina Vallejo-Giraldo
- CÚRAM-Centre for Research in Medical Devices-Galway, Biosciences Research Building, 118 Corrib Village, Newcastle, Galway, H91 D577, Ireland
| | - Katarzyna Krukiewicz
- CÚRAM-Centre for Research in Medical Devices-Galway, Biosciences Research Building, 118 Corrib Village, Newcastle, Galway, H91 D577, Ireland
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Technology of Polymers, Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, 44-100, Poland
| | - Ivo Calaresu
- Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Via Bonomea, 265, 34136, Trieste, Italy
| | - Jingyuan Zhu
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E14NS, UK
| | - Matteo Palma
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E14NS, UK
| | - Marc Fernandez-Yague
- CÚRAM-Centre for Research in Medical Devices-Galway, Biosciences Research Building, 118 Corrib Village, Newcastle, Galway, H91 D577, Ireland
| | - BenjaminW McDowell
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, MS-1G5 Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA
| | - Nathalia Peixoto
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, MS-1G5 Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA
| | - Nazar Farid
- School of Physics, National University of Ireland, Galway, University Road, Galway, H91 CF50, Ireland
| | - Gerard O'Connor
- School of Physics, National University of Ireland, Galway, University Road, Galway, H91 CF50, Ireland
| | - Laura Ballerini
- Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Via Bonomea, 265, 34136, Trieste, Italy
| | - Abhay Pandit
- CÚRAM-Centre for Research in Medical Devices-Galway, Biosciences Research Building, 118 Corrib Village, Newcastle, Galway, H91 D577, Ireland
| | - Manus Jonathan Paul Biggs
- CÚRAM-Centre for Research in Medical Devices-Galway, Biosciences Research Building, 118 Corrib Village, Newcastle, Galway, H91 D577, Ireland
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41
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Medelin M, Porrelli D, Aurand ER, Scaini D, Travan A, Borgogna MA, Cok M, Donati I, Marsich E, Scopa C, Scardigli R, Paoletti S, Ballerini L. Exploiting natural polysaccharides to enhance in vitro bio-constructs of primary neurons and progenitor cells. Acta Biomater 2018; 73:285-301. [PMID: 29621637 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2018.03.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2017] [Revised: 02/23/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Current strategies in Central Nervous System (CNS) repair focus on the engineering of artificial scaffolds for guiding and promoting neuronal tissue regrowth. Ideally, one should combine such synthetic structures with stem cell therapies, encapsulating progenitor cells and instructing their differentiation and growth. We used developments in the design, synthesis, and characterization of polysaccharide-based bioactive polymeric materials for testing the ideal composite supporting neuronal network growth, synapse formation and stem cell differentiation into neurons and motor neurons. Moreover, we investigated the feasibility of combining these approaches with engineered mesenchymal stem cells able to release neurotrophic factors. We show here that composite bio-constructs made of Chitlac, a Chitosan derivative, favor hippocampal neuronal growth, synapse formation and the differentiation of progenitors into the proper neuronal lineage, that can be improved by local and continuous delivery of neurotrophins. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE In our work, we characterized polysaccharide-based bioactive platforms as biocompatible materials for nerve tissue engineering. We show that Chitlac-thick substrates are able to promote neuronal growth, differentiation, maturation and formation of active synapses. These observations support this new material as a promising candidate for the development of complex bio-constructs promoting central nervous system regeneration. Our novel findings sustain the exploitation of polysaccharide-based scaffolds able to favour neuronal network reconstruction. Our study shows that Chitlac-thick may be an ideal candidate for the design of biomaterial scaffolds enriched with stem cell therapies as an innovative approach for central nervous system repair.
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Solcia E, Ballerini L, Bellini O, Magrini U, Bertazzoli C, Tosana G, Sala L, Balconi F, Rallo F. Cardiomyopathy of Doxorubicin in Experimental Animals. Factors Affecting the Severity, Distribution and Evolution of Myocardial Lesions. Tumori 2018; 67:461-72. [PMID: 7324176 DOI: 10.1177/030089168106700512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Heart lesions induced in mice, rats, rabbits and dogs by Doxorubicin administered i.v. according to various schedules were studied by light and electron microscopy. Vacuolization of myocardial cytoplasm due to distention of the sarcoplasmic reticulum, the T-tubule system and the Golgi vesicles was one of the most common findings. Myocytolysis, clumping and loss of fibrils, fragmentation of sarcomeres, swelling of mitochondria and an increase in lysosomes and residual bodies were also observed. The severity of the cardiomyopathy, quantitatively evaluated by a score system, proved to be dose-dependent. Cardiomyopathy was more severe when the treatment was given in a short period by administration of high doses than when the same cumulative dose was administered as low doses repeated for a long period. The left atrium was more severely affected than the ventricles when high doses were given, whereas it was less affected in animals given low doses. The cardiomyopathy was less severe in animals receiving the same dose in a high volume of solvent and during a long perfusion time. Threshold doses were needed both to induce the cardiomyopathy and to establish it as a progressive disease.
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43
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Grigioni M, Daniele C, D'Avenio G, Formigari R, Bernucci P, Ballerini L, Barbaro V. Pulsatile Flow and Atherogenesis: Results from in Vivo Studies. Int J Artif Organs 2018. [DOI: 10.1177/039139880102401107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Compliance mismatch between prosthetic vascular replacement (possibly stented) and native artery is considered to be an important factor in implant failure due, e.g., to vascular remodeling, tissutal growth or intimal hyperplasia (IH). From an in vivo study involving altered vascular mechanics (and, consequently, compliance mismatch), carried out using the Moncada model of atherosclerosis development and smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation, the hemodynamic assessment was followed by means of real-time multigated ultrasound profilometry, of collared carotid artery using two different models: nonconstrictive and costrictive plastic collars, wrapped around the vessel. The experiments provided the real-time measurement of velocity profiles in vivo and the subsequent estimation of wall shear stresses, locally responsible for the altered hemodynamics. Endothelium modifications were correlated with local hemodynamic alterations by using statistical regression analysis of the development of intimal hyperplasia and the mechanical stimulus applied to the endothelium by means of the two different manipulation models. Different correlations were found between wall shear rate and IH in the two models, showing the importance of the vascular pulsatility in determining SMC proliferation. This result could be useful in minimizing the negative consequences of clinical interventions such as graft and/or stent implantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Grigioni
- Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome - Italy
| | - C. Daniele
- Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome - Italy
| | - G. D'Avenio
- Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome - Italy
| | - R. Formigari
- Pediatric Cardiology, University of Bologna, Bologna - Italy
| | - P. Bernucci
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Pathology, “La Sapienza” University, Rome - Italy
| | | | - V. Barbaro
- Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome - Italy
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Marchesan
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy.
| | - Laura Ballerini
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy.
| | - Maurizio Prato
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgieri 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy. .,CIC BiomaGUNE, Parque Technológico de San Sebastián, Paseo Miramón, 182, 20009 San Sebastián (Guipúzcoa), Spain.,Basque Foundation for Science, Ikerbasque, Bilbao 48013, Spain
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45
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Pampaloni NP, Lottner M, Giugliano M, Matruglio A, D'Amico F, Prato M, Antonio Garrido J, Ballerini L, Scaini D. Single Layer Graphene Promotes Neuronal Activity by Regulating Potassium Ion Channels in Cultured Neuronal Networks. Biophys J 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2017.11.2176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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46
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Musto M, Rauti R, Lozano Valdes N, Ballerini C, Casalis L, Prato M, Kostarelos K, Ballerini L. Graphene Oxide Nanosheets and Neural System: From Synaptic Modulation to Neuroinflammation. Biophys J 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2017.11.3623] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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47
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Rauti R, Medelin M, Lozano N, Scaini D, Kostarelos K, Ballerini L. Graphene Oxide Nanosheets Target Excitatory Synapses in the Hippocampus: Reversible Down Regulation of Glutamate Neurotransmission In-Vivo. Biophys J 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2017.11.3622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
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48
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Medelin M, Giacco V, Aldinucci A, Castronovo G, Bonechi E, Sibilla A, Tanturli M, Torcia M, Ballerini L, Cozzolino F, Ballerini C. Bridging pro-inflammatory signals, synaptic transmission and protection in spinal explants in vitro. Mol Brain 2018; 11:3. [PMID: 29334986 PMCID: PMC5769440 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-018-0347-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 11/22/2017] [Accepted: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis is characterized by tissue atrophy involving the brain and the spinal cord, where reactive inflammation contributes to the neurodegenerative processes. Recently, the presence of synapse alterations induced by the inflammatory responses was suggested by experimental and clinical observations, in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis mouse model and in patients, respectively. Further knowledge on the interplay between pro-inflammatory agents, neuroglia and synaptic dysfunction is crucial to the design of unconventional protective molecules. Here we report the effects, on spinal cord circuits, of a cytokine cocktail that partly mimics the signature of T lymphocytes sub population Th1. In embryonic mouse spinal organ-cultures, containing neuronal cells and neuroglia, cytokines induced inflammatory responses accompanied by a significant increase in spontaneous synaptic activity. We suggest that cytokines specifically altered signal integration in spinal networks by speeding the decay of GABAA responses. This hypothesis is supported by the finding that synapse protection by a non-peptidic NGF mimetic molecule prevented both the changes in the time course of GABA events and in network activity that were left unchanged by the cytokine production from astrocytes and microglia present in the cultured tissue. In conclusion, we developed an important tool for the study of synaptic alterations induced by inflammation, that takes into account the role of neuronal and not neuronal resident cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Medelin
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127, Trieste, Italy.,International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136, Trieste, Italy
| | - V Giacco
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136, Trieste, Italy
| | - A Aldinucci
- Department NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, 50139, Florence, Italy
| | - G Castronovo
- Department of DSBSC, University of Florence, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - E Bonechi
- Department NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, 50139, Florence, Italy
| | - A Sibilla
- Department NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, 50139, Florence, Italy
| | - M Tanturli
- Department of DSBSC, University of Florence, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - M Torcia
- Department of DMSC, University of Florence, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - L Ballerini
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS), 34136, Trieste, Italy.
| | - F Cozzolino
- Department of DSBSC, University of Florence, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - C Ballerini
- Department NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, 50139, Florence, Italy.
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49
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Teatini U, Ballerini L, Romei Longhena G, Savino R, Maltagliati L, Masi F, Colombo R, Cimino R, Manfredi A. Microcirculation as a Novel Marker of Membrane Biocompatibility. Int J Artif Organs 2018; 29:1117-20. [PMID: 17219351 DOI: 10.1177/039139880602901204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Background It is possible to consider microcirculation as a kind of “witness” of the complex biological reactions triggered by the dialytic treatment. The reactivity of microcirculation to the dialytic stress may represent a measure of the overall biocompatibility of the membrane. In this study we tested the hypothesis that different synthetic membranes may have different biological effects, particularly related to microcirculation. Subjects and Methods In this crossover study, we observed 16 chronically hemodialyzed patients. All patients were treated with the EVAL membrane; we recorded the TcPO2 during the second treatment of the week. All patients were then switched to the hf-PS membrane. During the study observation we did not change the dialytic prescription or the pharmacologic treatment. Results From the beginning of the session until 90', the behavior of TcPO2 is similar for both the membranes. From 120' to the end of the treatment in sessions with the EVAL membrane, the TcPO2 values come back to the starting level, whereas in the treatments with hf-PS the TcPO2, the values remain at a lower level; there was a significant difference between EVAL and hf-PS in the values recorded. Arterial blood gas values of paO2 and paCO2 are quite similar in the treatments with both the membranes, without any significant difference. Conclusions The analysis of microcirculation by means of TcPO2 measurement is a useful tool to obtain a “clinical” measure of biocompatibility of the dialytic treatment and different membranes may have different impacts on TcPO2.
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Affiliation(s)
- U Teatini
- Renal Unit, Bollate Hospital, Bollate, Milan, Italy.
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Abstract
Interfacing the nervous system with devices able to efficiently record or modulate the electrical activity of neuronal cells represents the underlying foundation of future theranostic applications in neurology and of current openings in neuroscience research. These devices, usually sensing cell activity via microelectrodes, should be characterized by safe working conditions in the biological milieu together with a well-controlled operation-life. The stable device/neuronal electrical coupling at the interface requires tight interactions between the electrode surface and the cell membrane. This neuro-electrode hybrid represents the hyphen between the soft nature of neural tissue, generating electrical signals via ion motions, and the rigid realm of microelectronics and medical devices, dealing with electrons in motion. Efficient integration of these entities is essential for monitoring, analyzing and controlling neuronal signaling but poses significant technological challenges. Improving the cell/electrode interaction and thus the interface performance requires novel engineering of (nano)materials: tuning at the nanoscale electrode's properties may lead to engineer interfacing probes that better camouflaged with their biological target. In this brief review, we highlight the most recent concepts in nanotechnologies and nanomaterials that might help reducing the mismatch between tissue and electrode, focusing on the device's mechanical properties and its biological integration with the tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis Scaini
- Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, via Bonomea, 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy; Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A. di interesse nazionale, S.S. 14, km 163,5 in AREA Science Park, 34149 Basovizza, Trieste, Italy
| | - Laura Ballerini
- Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, via Bonomea, 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy.
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