Nanostructured titanium oxide as substrate for PC12 cell growth and differentiation

Neuronal differentiation is a crucial event in the regeneration of nervous tissues and adhesion on a substrate is critical for neurite extenction. The initiation and guidance of a neurite rely on extra-cellular signals, such as substrate energy of adhesion. There fore it is of great interest to unveil the substrates characteristics that are sensed by the growth cone and translated into neurite extention. In tehe present work a proteomic approach is used to characterize at the molecular level PC12 cells cultured on nanostructured TiO2 in order to evaluate how the nanoscale topography may modulate the dynamic of adhesion and control the shape and functions of cells as well as of tissues. Protein patterns and post-translational modifications are evaluated by immunochemistry and mass-spectrometry with particular emphasis on nitration, which is involved in neuronal proliferation and differentiation.