Method for studying regeneration in biological material

• US 20030068613A1
• Filed: 08/30/2002
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University TÜBINGEN
• Original Assignee: NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University TÜBINGEN
• Inventors: Leibrock, Cornelia, Muller, Thomas, Volkmer, Hansjurgen
• Application Number:
  US10/234,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20030068613A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/4
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5438 Electrodes

Abstract

In a method for studying regeneration in biological material said biological material is cultivated on an electrode array, subjected to the action of regeneration promoting active substances and/or physical processes, whereupon the regeneration process of said biological material is analyzed.

Claims

1. A method for studying regeneration in a biological material comprising:

cultivating said biological material on an electrode array;

subjecting said biological material to a regeneration-promoting process; and

analyzing effectiveness of said regeneration-promoting process in said biological material by measuring electrical activity of said biological material through said electrode array.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said electrode array is a microelectrode array.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said regeneration-promoting process comprises administering a chemical substance.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said regeneration-promoting process comprises subjecting said biological material to a physical process.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said chemical substance is selected from the group consisting of:

drugs, peptides, proteins and nucleic acids.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said physical process is electrical stimulation, electrical field, or electromagnetic field.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said regeneration is regeneration of intercellular connections.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said regeneration is regeneration of functional connections between neurons.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein a time course of said regeneration of intercellular connections is analyzed.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein a time course of said regeneration of functional connections between neurons is analyzed.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the regeneration is repeatedly observed for at least a week.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said biological material comprises juvenile cells.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said biological material comprises cells in an adult state.

14. The method of claim 3, wherein reactions of receptor systems to application of said chemical substance are analyzed.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein said regeneration of functional connections between neurons is studied in the presence of a drug.