2017年第64回応用物理学会春季学術講演会

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シンポジウム(口頭講演)

シンポジウム » ナノバイオテクノロジーとバイオセンシングに関するジョイントシンポジウム

[15p-313-1~10] ナノバイオテクノロジーとバイオセンシングに関するジョイントシンポジウム

2017年3月15日(水) 13:15 〜 18:30 313 (313+314)

竹原 宏明(東大)、平野 愛弓(東北大)、宮本 浩一郎(東北大)

17:45 〜 18:15

[15p-313-9] Dissociated neuronal culture coupled to micro-electrode array: measurement of the network dynamics and application toward neural interface

伊東 大輔1,2、郷原 一寿3、キアッパローネ ミケーラ1 (1.イタリア技術研究所、2.学振海外特別研究員、3.北大院工)

キーワード:microelectrode array, cultured neuronal network

Primary neuronal cultures dissociated from different regions of the central nervous system have been a classical model for in vitro studies of neurobiological mechanisms. Developed at the beginning of the 80’s, the Micro-Electrode Array (MEA) technique nowadays offers a useful experimental approach for in vitro electrophysiological investigations. Previous work demonstrated the possibility to use dissociated neuronal networks coupled to MEAs as a cell-based biosensor.
Here, we present our recent studies using neuronal culture coupled to MEAs: 1) principal properties of cultured neuronal networks revealed by long-term measurement of spatiotemporal dynamics. 2) development of neuronal network cultured on graphene-transferred MEAs. 3) neuronal cultures embodied in a closed-loop environment.
Primary neurons cultured on MEAs autonomously formed functional networks, after elongating axons and establishing synaptic connections. The neuronal networks showed spontaneous uncorrelated firing within several days; the spontaneous spikes became synchronized bursts as the network grew. The quantified activity as mean firing rate and bursting rate showed an initial increase and subsequent saturation during the 1-month culture period. As a result of quantification of synaptic density by immunostaining, it was clarified that the number of culture days to saturation from the initial increase in synaptic density corresponded to the electrical activity. In addition, we found the specific gene expression corresponded to the maturation of neuronal network.
Then, we present the study on the neuronal network cultured on graphene-transferred MEAs. As it has been widely known, graphene is a thin layer of pure carbon; it is a single, tightly packed layer of carbon atoms bonded together in a hexagonal lattice. We transferred single-wall graphene to MEA substrate and attempt to culture primary neuronal cells on the substrate. Interestingly, the culture on graphene-transferred MEAs showed higher number of spikes compared to conventional condition.
Finally, we present a new hybrid neuro-robotic architecture based on a neural controller bi-directionally connected to a virtual robot implementing a Braitenberg vehicle aimed at avoiding obstacles. The robot is characterized by proximity sensors and wheels, allowing it to navigate into a circular arena with obstacles of different sizes. As neural controller, we used neuronal cultures. These study offers a new framework for studying, in simplified model system, neuro-artificial bi-directional interfaces for the development of new strategies for brain-machine interaction.