Abstract
Different types of carbon materials are biocompatible with neural cells and can promote maturation. The mechanism of this effect is not clear. Here we have tested the capacity of a carbon material composed of amorphous sp3 carbon backbone, embedded with a percolating network of sp2 carbon domains to sustain neuronal cultures. We found that cortical neurons survive and develop faster on this novel carbon material. After 3 days in culture, there is a precocious increase in the frequency of neuronal activity and in the expression of maturation marker KCC2 on carbon films as compared to a commonly used glass surface. Accelerated development is accompanied by a dramatic increase in neuronal dendrite arborization. The mechanism for the precocious maturation involves the activation of intracellular calcium oscillations by the carbon material already after 1 day in culture. Carbon-induced oscillations are independent of network activity and reflect intrinsic spontaneous activation of developing neurons. Thus, these results reveal a novel mechanism for carbon material-induced neuronal survival and maturation.
Highlights
Different types of carbon materials are biocompatible with neural cells and can promote maturation
Neurons cultured on Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have increased levels of neuronal K +–Cl− cotransporter KCC2, a key component in the functional maturation of inhibitory s ynaptic[14] and glutamatergic[15,16,17] transmission
We propose a novel mechanism by which a new type of sputtered carbon material accelerates neuronal maturation
Summary
Different types of carbon materials are biocompatible with neural cells and can promote maturation. Carboninduced oscillations are independent of network activity and reflect intrinsic spontaneous activation of developing neurons These results reveal a novel mechanism for carbon material-induced neuronal survival and maturation. We found that the carbon material induces an early increase in low frequency spontaneous intracellular calcium oscillations that are independent of the network activity. These oscillations are primarily generated by intracellular mechanisms and are in the range known to stimulate the activation and expression of proteins involved in cell m aturation[30,31]. Apart from demonstrating the suitability of the novel material for neuronal interface, we provide new insight into the mechanism for its neurotrophic action
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