Hours:
16 hours (4 credits)

Room:

Aula Riunioni del Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell’Informazione, Via G. Caruso 16, Pisa - Ground Floor

To register to the course, click here

Short Abstract:

The PhD course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of in vitro neuroengineering, focusing on the principles, techniques, and applications of engineering approaches for studying and manipulating neuronal systems in vitro. The course will cover fundamental concepts, experimental methodologies, and cutting-edge advancements in the field, with an emphasis on multidisciplinary perspectives. Students will gain practical skills in designing and conducting experiments, and analyzing data.

Course Contents in brief:

The course is divided into four sections:

1. Introduction to In Vitro Neuroengineering
   1. Overview of in vitro neuronal systems
   2. Historical context and significance of in vitro neuroengineering
   3. Ethical considerations in in vitro experiments
2. Neuronal Cell Culture Techniques
   1. Cell culture fundamentals
   2. Primary neuronal culture techniques
   3. Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neuronal cultures
   4. Co-culture systems and organoids
3. Microelectrode Arrays (MEAs)
   1. Principles of MEAs
   2. Fabrication and design considerations
   3. Signal acquisition and data analysis
   4. Applications in electrophysiology and neural interface development
4. Microfluidics and Brain-on-a-Chip Systems
   1. Microfluidic device fabrication and operation
   2. Integration of neuronal cultures in microfluidic platforms
   3. Advancements in drug delivery and chemical stimulation
   4. Disease modeling and high-throughput screening

Schedule:

1. Day1 – 2nd September 2025- 09:00-13:00 (4 hours)
2. Day2 – 3rd September 2025 – 09:00-13:00 (4 hours)
3. Day3 – 4th September 2025 – 09:00-13:00 (4 hours)
4. Day4 – 5th September 2025 – 09:00- 13:00 (4 hours)