Biomedical Engineering Reference
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without peptides. Results showed that cortical neurons, in the presence of
MWCNTs functionalised with peptides, did not alter neuronal spontaneous
activity. These data substantiated previous investigations aimed to test
whether electric stimulation delivered via SWCNTs could produce neuronal
signaling.
187
In that case, experiments were performed on hippocampal cells
grown on pure SWCNT substrates, showing that SWCNTs could directly
stimulate brain circuit activity. Indeed, in the latest study,
f
-MWCNTs do
not appear to alter neuronal morphology, viability and basic functions, so
they represent a promising candidate for the exploitation of novel drug-
delivery systems or for designing new generations of self-assembling nerve
''bridges''.
O
NH
3
+
Cl
-
O
N
CH
2
O, DMF
Bo
c-NH-TE
G-NH
2
H
2
SO
4
/
HNO
3
HCl, diox.
O
OH
O
OH
2
1
3
O
O
O
O
N
N
O
S
Cys-PSDGRG
O
H
N
O
O
O
O
N
DIEA, DMF
O
O
O
O
OH
O
N
H
N
O
5
N
O
O
OH
4
O
O
S
Cys-VAVKI
O
N
H
N
O
N
O
O
OH
6
Figure 9.30
Preparation of peptide-MWCNTs.
9.3.3 Photovoltaic Applicaons
Although representing a small portion of the research performed in Prato's
group, the characterisation and manipulation of carbon-based materials in
order to change their electronic properties has led to excellent discoveries,
originating, for example, from the strategic combination of SWCNTs with
electron donors or acceptors.
188
One major limitation to the widespread
use of CNTs is represented by the polydispersive nature of the tubes, which
exist as bundles and aggregates of different sizes. In order to overcome this
problem, the authors have complexed the tubes with a perylene dye, which
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