Journal article
Conducting polymers, dual neurotrophins and pulsed electrical stimulation - Dramatic effects on neurite outgrowth
BC Thompson, RT Richardson, SE Moulton, AJ Evans, S O'Leary, GM Clark, GG Wallace
Journal of Controlled Release | ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV | Published : 2010
Abstract
In this study the synergistic effect of delivering two neurotrophins simultaneously to encourage neuron survival and neurite elongation was explored. Neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were incorporated into polypyrrole (PPy) during electrosynthesis and the amounts incorporated and released were determined using iodine-125 (125I) radio-labelled neurotrophins. Neurite outgrowth from cochlear neural explants grown on the conducting polymer was equivalent to that on tissue culture plastic but significantly improved with the incorporation of NT-3 and BDNF. Neurite outgrowth from explants grown on polymers containing both NT-3 and BDNF showed significant improvemen..
View full abstractGrants
Funding Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to the Australian Research Council for continued financial support and to the Australian Research Nanotechnology Network for provision of travel funds for BCT. The authors wish to acknowledge that this work was in part funded by the Stavros S. Niarchos Foundation and the Royal National Institute for Deaf People. The assistance of Rodney Millard of the Bionic Ear Institute is gratefully acknowledged in the development of the cochlear implant mimicking stimulators used in this work.