Biological Sciences Division
Published June 1, 2020 | Version v1
Journal article Open

Remote nongenetic optical modulation of neuronal activity using fuzzy graphene

Creators

  • 1. Carnegie Mellon University
  • 2. University of Chicago
  • 3. University of Pittsburgh
  • 4. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Description

The ability to modulate cellular electrophysiology is fundamental to the investigation of development, function, and disease. Currently, there is a need for remote, nongenetic, light-induced control of cellular activity in two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) platforms. Here, we report a breakthrough hybrid nanomaterial for remote, nongenetic, photothermal stimulation of 2D and 3D neural cellular systems. We combine one-dimensional (1D) nanowires (NWs) and 2D graphene flakes grown out-of-plane for highly controlled photothermal stimulation at subcellular precision without the need for genetic modification, with laser energies lower than a hundred nanojoules, one to two orders of magnitude lower than Au-, C-, and Si-based nanomaterials. Photothermal stimulation using NW-templated 3D fuzzy graphene (NT-3DFG) is flexible due to its broadband absorption and does not generate cellular stress. Therefore, it serves as a powerful toolset for studies of cell signaling within and between tissues and can enable therapeutic interventions.

Data availability

Data deposition: All data related to the presented figures are available through Carnegie Mellon University research repository (Kilthub) at https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/c.4943241.v1.

Files

rastogi-et-al-2020-remote-nongenetic-optical-modulation-of-neuronal-activity-using-fuzzy-graphene.pdf

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Additional details

Identifiers

DOI
10.1073/pnas.1919921117
Other
oai:uchicago.tind.io:9701

Funding

National Science Foundation
CBET1552833
Office of Naval Research
N000141712368
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
AWD00001593
Unknown funder
Pew Latin American Fellowship
National Science Foundation
DMR-1555001
Department of Materials Science and Engineering Materials Characterization Facility
MCF-677785

UChicago Information

Division(s)
Biological Sciences Division
Department(s)
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology