Objective The project focuses on developing voltage-sensitive nano-transducers (VSNs) suitable for long-term monitoring of neuronal membrane-potential. The proposed sensing technology seeks to empower the development of treatments against neurodegenerative pathologies, such as Alzheimer's, currently hampered by the photo-bleaching and photodynamic damage associated with conventional voltage-sensitive dyes (VSD). VSNs will exploit the novel concept of electrically tuneable plasmon resonant nano-particles/nano-rods (NP /NRs), nano-sensors that experience plasmon resonance shifts induced by the electric fields sub serving neuronal activation. To this end, a family of capping mono-layers endowed with conformational sensitivity to neuronal electric fields will be engineered by construction of chain-ball sensing arms including charged groups and flexible tethering alkyl chains. Other types of NP/NR-neuron interaction will also be studied as enhancers of voltage-sensitivity, including NP/NR-enabled monitoring of membrane nano-displacements (e.g. cellular swelling), variations of membrane refractive index and local heat production accompanying electrical activity. Transient changes in intensity, wavelength and phase of scattered light from neuron-bound NP/NRs will be studied using dark-field and phase sensitive microscopy combined with ultrahigh dynamic range active pixel sensors. NP/NRs of various sizes, shapes and compositions will be synthesised with a range of tether lengths and charged units. VSNs will be studied when bound to supported lipid bilayers, cultured neurons in isolation and cortical slices by simultaneous electrical control of dual layer and neuronal membrane potential and optical imaging/spectroscopy. To support the development and exploitation of the VSN technology, the optimal experimental setup will be integrated with the multi-electrode neurophysiology system developed and commercialised by one of the partners. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesneurobiologynatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsmicroscopynatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculeslipidsengineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materialsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsspectroscopy Programme(s) FP6-NMP - Nanotechnologies and nanosciences, knowledge-based multifunctional materials and new production processes and devices: thematic priority 3 under the 'Focusing and integrating community research' of the 'Integrating and strengthening the European Research Area' specific programme 2002-2006. Topic(s) NMP-2004-3.4.1.1-1 - Towards "converging" technologies Call for proposal FP6-2004-NMP-TI-4 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme STREP - Specific Targeted Research Project Coordinator UNIVERSITAT POLITÈCNICA DE CATALUNYA EU contribution No data Address Jordi Girona 31 BARCELONA Spain See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (6) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all LUDWIG-MAXIMILIANS-UNIVERSITAET MUENCHEN Germany EU contribution No data Address Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1 MUENCHEN See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data MULTI CHANNEL SYSTEMS MCS GMBH Germany EU contribution No data Address Aspenhaustrasse 21 REUTLINGEN See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET ILMENAU Germany EU contribution No data Address Ehrenbergstrasse 29 ILMENAU See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM. Israel EU contribution No data Address The Hebrew University, Mt. Scopus JERUSALEM See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address UNIVERSITY PARK NG7 2RD NOTTINGHAM See on map Total cost No data VERENIGING VOOR CHRISTELIJK HOGER ONDERWIJS WETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK EN PATIENTENZORG Netherlands EU contribution No data Address DE BOELELAAN 1105 AMSTERDAM See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
