Remote nongenetic optical modulation of neuronal activity using fuzzy graphene
Abstract
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.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2020
- Source ID
- 10.1073/pnas.1919921117
Entities
People
- Bernardo I Pinto
- Corban G E Murphey
- Daniel San Roman
- Francisco Bezanilla
- Itzhaq Cohen-Karni
- James F Cahoon
- Jane E Hartung
- Matteo Giuseppe Scopelliti
- Maysamreza Chamanzar
- Michael S. Gold
- N.F. Johnson
- Raghav Garg
- Sahil Kumar Rastogi
- Seokhyoung Kim
Organizations
- Carnegie Mellon University
- National Science Foundation Directorate for Engineering
- National Science Foundation Directorate for Mathematical & Physical Sciences
- Office of Naval Research
- University of Chicago
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- University of Pittsburgh