NEURO-ENGINEERING RESEARCH
Our research aims to unveil the basic mechanisms underlying neuronal development and leverages this knowledge towards obtaining improved methods for manipulating and promoting neuronal regeneration. Neurons develop into a wide-variety of shapes with important implications for neuronal function and connectivity. Following nerve injuries, the process of spontaneous nerve regeneration is incomplete. Our approach is multidisciplinary and merges engineering, biology and material sciences, at the micro and nano scale. We analyze neuronal responses by implementing morphometric measurements, electrophysiological protocols, simulations and bioinformatics. Moreover, in order to target the nervous system and key injured, diseased tissue, we develop drug-delivery technologies, i.e. novel carriers and biolistic setups.