Carbon nanotubes and neuronal performance

The application of nanotechnology to contemporary neuroscience promotes innovative solutions that may be useful for brain and spinal cord repair strategies after damage. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are a novel form of carbon made of rolled layers of graphite. Since their discovery CNTs appeared immediately interesting materials, due to their remarkable properties. In fact, depending on their structure, CNTs are both immensely strong and mechanically fl exible. In addition, CNTs exhibit useful properties allowing nanotubes to conduit electrical current between electrochemical interfaces. CNTs are scaffolds composed of small tubes with diameters similar to those of neural processes, thus particularly attractive for neuroscience research applications. It is not clear whether CNTs, simply due to their intrinsic structure, could directly improve the rewiring of disconnected neuronal networks. In this chapter, we discuss the use of CNTs as scaffolds able to impact and sustain neuronal network.