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Biofunctional Silk/Neuron Interfaces

  1. Valentina Benfenati1,*,
  2. Katja Stahl2,
  3. Carolina Gomis-Perez3,
  4. Stefano Toffanin1,
  5. Anna Sagnella4,
  6. Reidun Torp2,
  7. David L. Kaplan5,
  8. Giampiero Ruani1,
  9. Fiorenzo G. Omenetto5,
  10. Roberto Zamboni4,
  11. Michele Muccini1,*

Article first published online: 20 FEB 2012

DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201102310

Issue

Advanced Functional Materials

Advanced Functional Materials

Volume 22, Issue 9, pages 1871–1884, May 9, 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Benfenati, V., Stahl, K., Gomis-Perez, C., Toffanin, S., Sagnella, A., Torp, R., Kaplan, D. L., Ruani, G., Omenetto, F. G., Zamboni, R. and Muccini, M. (2012), Biofunctional Silk/Neuron Interfaces. Adv. Funct. Mater., 22: 1871–1884. doi: 10.1002/adfm.201102310

Author Information

  1. 1

    Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Istituto per lo Studio dei Materiali Nanostrutturati (ISMN), via Gobetti, 101, 40129, Bologna, Italy

  2. 2

    Center for Molecular Biology and Neuroscience, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1105 Blindern NO-0317 Oslo, Norway

  3. 3

    Department of Human and General Physiology, University of Bologna, via S. Donato 19/2, 40127, Bologna, Italy

  4. 4

    Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Istituto per la Sintesi Organica e la Fotoreattività (ISOF), via Gobetti, 101, 40129, Bologna, Italy

  5. 5

    Department for Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA

*Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Istituto per lo Studio dei Materiali Nanostrutturati (ISMN), via Gobetti, 101, 40129, Bologna, Italy.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 2 MAY 2012
  2. Article first published online: 20 FEB 2012
  3. Manuscript Received: 27 SEP 2011

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Keywords:

  • silk films;
  • biofunctional interfaces;
  • neuron electrophysiology

Abstract

Silk fibroin (SF) is a biocompatible and slowly biodegradable material with excellent mechanical properties and huge potential for use as biofunctional interface in electronic devices that aim to stimulate and control neural network activity and peripheral nerve repair. It is shown that SF films act as material interfaces that support the adherence and neurite outgrowth of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and preserve neuronal functions. Silk films preserve the capability of neuronal cells to fire and DRG neurons on silk films retain the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) response to capsaicin, a typical noxious stimulus for this neuronal culture model. It is also demonstrated that nerve growth factor (NGF)-functionalized silk films promote neurite outgrowth and modulate functional properties of DRG neurons. The results show that silk preserves DRG neuronal physiology and is a promising biomaterial platform for the future development of devices with goals including functional recovery of injured neurons, neurite functional outgrowth in vitro, or functional electrostimulation in vivo.

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