THE STRUCTURE OF THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM AND NANOENGINEERING APPROACHES FOR STUDYING AND REPAIRING IT

Nanotechnologies involve materials and devices with an engineered functional organization at the nanometer scale. Applications of nanotechnology to cell biology and physiology provide targeted interactions at a fundamental molecular level. In neuroscience, this entails specific interactions with neurons and glial cells, which complements the cellular and molecular organization and structure of the nervous system. Examples of current work include technologies designed to better interact with neural cells, advanced molecular imaging technologies, applications of materials and hybrid molecules for neural regeneration and neuroprotection, and targeted delivery of drugs and small molecules across the blood-brain barrier.