Nano Express
Coupling of Semiconductor Nanowires with Neurons and Their Interfacial Structure
1 Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, 120-749, South Korea
2 Jeonnam Natural Resources Research Institute, Jangheung-Gun, Jeollanamdo, 529-851, South Korea
3 Advanced Analysis Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 136-791, South Korea
4 Department of Physics, Yonsei University, Seoul, 120-749, South Korea
5 Center for Chemoinformatics Research, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 136-791, South Korea
Nanoscale Research Letters 2009, 5:410-415 doi:10.1007/s11671-009-9498-0
Published: 4 December 2009Abstract
We report on the compatibility of various nanowires with hippocampal neurons and the structural study of the neuron–nanowire interface. Si, Ge, SiGe, and GaN nanowires are compatible with hippocampal neurons due to their native oxide, but ZnO nanowires are toxic to neuron due to a release of Zn ion. The interfaces of fixed Si nanowire and hippocampal neuron, cross-sectional samples, were prepared by focused ion beam and observed by transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that the processes of neuron were adhered well on the nanowire without cleft.
