Tang Minghui, Zhang Xiaoge, Yang Anqi, Liu Yuxin, Xie Kai, Zhou Yajing, Wang Chong, Liu Jie, Shi Peng, Lin Xudong
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sensor Technology and Biomedical Instrument, School of Biomedical Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China.
Small. 2022 Feb;18(8):e2105388. doi: 10.1002/smll.202105388. Epub 2021 Dec 10.
Neurons can be modified to express light-sensitive proteins for enabling stimulation with a high spatial and temporal resolution, but such techniques require gene transfection and systematical implantation. Here, a black phosphorus nanosheet-based injectable strategy is described for wireless neural stimulation both in vitro and in vivo without cell modifications. These nanosheets, with minimal invasiveness, high biocompatibility, and biodegradability, are anchored on cell membranes as miniature near-infrared (NIR) light transducers to create local heating for neural activity excitation. Based on cultured multielectrode-array recording, in vivo electrophysiology analysis, and open field behavioral tests, it is demonstrated that remotely applied NIR illumination can reliably trigger spiking activity in cultured neurons and rat brains. Excitingly, reliable regulation of brain function to control animal behaviors is also described. Moreover, this approach has shown its potential for future clinical use by successful high-frequency stimulation in cells and animals in this proof-of-concept study. It is believed that this new method will offer a powerful alternative to other neural stimulation solutions and potentially be of independent value to the healthcare system.
神经元可以被改造以表达光敏感蛋白，从而实现高空间和时间分辨率的刺激，但此类技术需要基因转染和系统性植入。在此，描述了一种基于黑磷纳米片的可注射策略，用于在体外和体内进行无线神经刺激，而无需对细胞进行改造。这些纳米片具有最小的侵入性、高生物相容性和生物降解性，作为微型近红外（NIR）光传感器锚定在细胞膜上，以产生局部加热来激发神经活动。基于培养的多电极阵列记录、体内电生理分析和旷场行为测试，证明远程施加的近红外照明可以可靠地触发培养神经元和大鼠大脑中的尖峰活动。令人兴奋的是，还描述了对脑功能进行可靠调节以控制动物行为的情况。此外，在这项概念验证研究中，通过在细胞和动物中成功进行高频刺激，该方法已显示出其未来临床应用的潜力。相信这种新方法将为其他神经刺激解决方案提供有力的替代方案，并可能对医疗保健系统具有独立价值。
