From 2D to 3D: novel nanostructured scaffolds to investigate signalling in reconstructed neuronal networks

To recreate in vitro 3D neuronal circuits will ultimately increase the relevance of results from cultured to whole-brain networks and will promote enabling technologies for neuro-engineering applications. Here we fabricate novel elastomeric scaffolds able to instruct 3D growth of living primary neurons. Such systems allow investigating the emerging activity, in terms of calcium signals, of small clusters of neurons as a function of the interplay between the 2D or 3D architectures and network dynamics. We report the ability of 3D geometry to improve functional organization and synchronization in small neuronal assemblies. We propose a mathematical modelling of network dynamics that supports such a result. Entrapping carbon nanotubes in the scaffolds remarkably boosted synaptic activity, thus allowing for the first time to exploit nanomaterial/cell interfacing in 3D growth support. Our 3D system represents a simple and reliable construct, able to improve the complexity of current tissue culture models

Chemical analysis, antioxidant, anti inflammatory and anticholinesterase activities of Origanum ehrenbergii Boiss and Origanum syriacum L. essential oils

The essential oils of Origanum ehrenbergii and O. syriacum collected in Lebanon were analysed by GC and GC-MS and evaluated for their anticholinesterase, NO production inhibitory activities, and antioxidant properties. O. ehrenbergi essential oil was characterised by the presence of 37 components, representing 94.9% of the total oil of which thymol (19%) and p-cymene (16.1%) were the main abundant compounds. Thirty-six compounds characterised the O. syriacum essential oil, representing 90.6% of the total oil. The most abundant components were thymol (24.7%) and carvacrol (17.6%). O. ehrenbergii demonstrated interesting scavenging effects on DPPH with an IC(50) value of 0.99 mu g/ml. In addition, both O. ehrenbergii and O. syniacum oils inhibited oxidation of linoleic acid after 30 min of incubation, as well as after 60 min of incubation with IC(50) values of 42.1 and 33.6 mu g/ml, and 46.9 and 58.9 mu g/ml, respectively. Interestingly, O. ehrenbergii oil inhibited NO production in the murine monocytic macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 with an IC(50) value of 66.4 mu g/ml. Acetylcholinesterase (ACH) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibition was assessed by modifications of the Ellman's method. O. ehrenbergii exhibited a strong activity against both cholinesterases with IC(50) values of 0.3 mu g/ml. The data suggest that O. ehrenbergii and O. syriacum oils could be used as a valuable new flavour with functional properties for food or nutriceutical products with particular relevance to supplements for the elderl