In the last decade, we have experienced an increasing interest and an improved understanding of the application of nanotechnology to the nervous system. The aim of such studies is that of developing future strategies for tissue repair to promote functional recovery after brain damage. In this framework, carbon nanotube based technologies are emerging as particularly innovative tools due to the outstanding physical properties of these nanomaterials together with their recently documented ability to interface neuronal circuits, synapses and membranes. This review will discuss the state of the art in carbon nanotube technology applied to the development of devices able to drive nerve tissue repair; we will highlight the most exciting findings addressing the impact of carbon nanotubes in nerve tissue engineering, focusing in particular on neuronal differentiation, growth and network reconstruction.
Keywords: Adhesion; Axons; CNS; DRG; ECM; EN; ERK; FAK; KCC2; LBL; MAP2; MEA; MSC; MWCNT; NCAM; NGF; NSC; Nanomaterial; Nanotopography; Network activity; Neurite growth; Neuronal membrane; PAA; PABS; PEG; PEI; PLCL; PLO; SEM; SMI-32; SWCNT; Scaffold; Stem cell differentiation; Synaptic activity; antibody recognizing non-phosphorylated neurofilaments; central nervous system; dorsal root ganglia; ethylenediamine; extracellular matrix; extracellular signal-regulated kinase; few-walled CNT; focal adhesion kinase; fwCNT; layer-by-layer; mesenchymal stem cells; microtubule-associated protein 2; multi-electrode array; multi-walled carbon nanotubes; nerve growth factor; neural cell adhesion molecule; neural stem cells; poly(acrylic acid); poly(l-lactic acid-co-caprolactone); poly-m-aminobenzene sulfonic acid; polyethylene glycol; polyethyleneimine; polyornithine; potassium chloride cotransporter 2; scanning electron microscope; siRNA; single-walled carbon nanotubes; small interfering RNA.
© 2013.