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Content archived on 2024-06-18

Chatting with Neurons: A novel approach to the study of neurophysiologic responses of neuronal tissue in vitro, combining nanotechnology, tissue engineering, microfluidics and neuroelectrophysiology

Objective

Laboratory-on-a-Chip technology was introduced in this field. To avoid the complexity of an animal model and to reduce the number of animals for pre-clinical research cell culture models are important. Here, the combination of microfluidics, tissue engineering and neuroelectrophysiology on MEA-chips is suggested. Because neuronal tissue on chip may act differently from the neurons in their natural environment, the first objective is to follow a systems engineering approach to realize a platform technology, which allows us to reliably co-culture cells in a 3D interconnected configuration, providing an artificially vascularized system on a MEA. For on-line monitoring of the culturing conditions, we will implement micro-total analysis systems (TAS) technology proposing microchip capillary electrophoresis, potentially coupled to mass spectrometry, to correlate electrophysiology with neurochemistry. Previously, it has been demonstrated that physical and chemical micro- and nanostructures influence cell guidance, viability and cell differentiation, so far, unfortunately without a unifying theory to explain the involved mechanisms. Therefore, our second objective is to further our understanding with respect to the influence of nanocues, implementing microfluidic programming to activate porous nanostructures on MEA and investigate cellular signaling and pathway reactions related to the cell’s adhesion mechanism. Combining the first and the second objective will allow us to work towards clinical questions of neurodynamic diseases as epilepsy, characterized by intermittent abnormal synchronization of different neuronal populations. We hypothesize that for these disorders, 3D cell co-culture models will resemble the natural neural networks more closely than 2D, which may subsequently serve as a model to study novel therapeutic procedures, for instance selective neurostimulation. Thus, we propose, as our third objective, nanostimulation of neuronal subsystem.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Call for proposal

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ERC-2011-StG_20101014
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Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

ERC-SG - ERC Starting Grant

Host institution

TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT EINDHOVEN
EU contribution
€ 517 800,00
Address
GROENE LOPER 3
5612 AE Eindhoven
Netherlands

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Region
Zuid-Nederland Noord-Brabant Zuidoost-Noord-Brabant
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

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Beneficiaries (2)

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