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Nanomaterial-based approaches for advancing neurotechnologies
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Shah, Shreyas. Nanomaterial-based approaches for advancing neurotechnologies. Retrieved from https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3CN75WF

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TitleNanomaterial-based approaches for advancing neurotechnologies
NameShah, Shreyas (author); Lee, Ki-Bum (chair); Asefa, Teddy (internal member); Garfunkel, Eric (internal member); Pang, Zhiping P (outside member); Rutgers University; Graduate School - New Brunswick
Date Created2015
Other Date2015-10 (degree)
SubjectChemistry and Chemical Biology, Nanostructured materials, Neurosciences, Brain--Physiology
Extent1 online resource (xx, 207 p. : ill.)
DescriptionThe human brain is a phenomenal ‘organic machine’, comprised of an intricate network of tens of billions of neurons dispersed in a milieu of chemical and biochemical constituents. While remarkable advances have been made to better understand how the brain works and how to overcome neural deficits resulting from degenerative diseases, traumatic injuries and cancer, the inherent complexity makes it difficult to fully comprehend, modulate and repair. This is partly due to challenges in developing advanced tools to effectively probe and interface with neural cells and tissue. Yet, given that the biomolecular interactions and chemical communication in the brain occur at the nanoscale, there is great potential in leveraging advances in nanoscience and nanotechnology to address pertinent challenges in neuroscience. This doctoral dissertation will focus on the rational design and characterization of nanomaterial-based approaches for applications in neural regeneration, neural drug delivery and neural modulation. The reproducible control of chemical reactions and advanced nanochemistry can enable the generation of a variety of nanomaterials and nanostructures with well-defined compositions, shapes and properties. The first portion of this dissertation describes the control of neural cell fate by the delivery of chemical factors through the soluble microenvironment. This was achieved by the synthesis of a multifunctional polymeric nanocarrier, designed to facilitate the simultaneous delivery of distinct functional factors in the form of small molecules and RNA-based biomolecules. Moving from the soluble microenvironment in which cells are immersed to the underlying substrate, cells can sense and consequently respond to the physical microenvironment in which they reside. The next part of the dissertation describes the control of neural cell shape and behavior by modifying the surface chemistry on two-dimensional surfaces. These surfaces, consisting of immobilized extracellular matrix proteins and/or nanomaterials, were observed to direct neuronal differentiation and extension. The final portion of the dissertation describes how the abovementioned approaches were further advanced to generate three-dimensional nano-scaffolds. By introducing specialized synthetic nanomaterials into biomaterial scaffolds, these multifunctional hybrid nano-scaffolds were utilized to selectively guide neural cell fate, to achieve remotely-controlled drug release and to modulate neural activity. Overall, nanomaterial-based approaches offer the precise physical and chemical control to design tools suitable for advancing neuroscience research.
NotePh.D.
NoteIncludes bibliographical references
Noteby Shreyas Shah
Genretheses, ETD doctoral
Persistent URLhttps://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3CN75WF
Languageeng
CollectionGraduate School - New Brunswick Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Organization NameRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.
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