DNA Nanotechnology for Modulating the Growth and Development of Neurons

Abstract

Late prenatal growth, early postnatal growth, and layering of the neocortical neurons (NC-Ns) play determining roles in the development of the cerebral cortex (CC). Here, we systematically explore the interactive role of neuronal surface receptors (NSRs) on cytoskeleton activation (CA) and the piconewton (pN) force generation (P-FG) and their influence on the proper development, growth, and functioning of neurons using a designed DNA nanomechanical device (DNA-NMD). This DNA-NMD, functioning as a molecular tension probe (MTP), can be used to selectively bind the different NSRs (β-NGFR, Reelin, and Integrin) to mono-, bi-, and trispecifically activate the receptors on the NC-Ns surface for imaging and calculating the P-FG involved in various processes. Measurements in vivo on the brain of newly born Institute of Cancer Research mice (early postnatal) or in vitro after extracting neurons from the fetal brain of pregnant Institute of Cancer Research mice (late prenatal) reveal that there are augmented interactive roles of the β-NGFR with Integrin and Reelin receptors (RR) on the CA and P-FG, resulting in enhanced directional migration of the neuronal endings (M-NEs), layering, and the somal terminal translocation (S-TT) followed by early postnatal growth.