Stimulation of neural cells by lateral currents in conductive layer-by-layer films of single-walled carbon nanotubes

The electrophysiological activity taking place through the membrane of neuronlike NG108-15 cells upon stimulation through the single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) coatings was investigated. A special substrate was designed in order to obtain electrophysiological measurements on the communication between neuron cells and SWNT LBL films. The successful electrical stimulation of NG108-15 cells depends on the ability of the cells to attach to the surface of nanotube films. Electrophysiological measurements were conducted using a voltage/patch clamp technique. Cells were voltage clamped using single patch electrodes in the whole-cell mode. The potential between the pipette electrode and the reference electrode in the bath was held at -60 mV. It was observed that SWNt can be incorporated into LBL multilayers with sufficiently high electrical conductivity to electrically stimulate excitable neuron cells.