Nanoparticle thin films for photoactivation of neurons

描述（由申请人提供）：纳米器件制造的技术进步扩大了在人造材料和生物材料之间开发光学和电学界面的能力。由半导体纳米颗粒制造的纳米结构薄膜显示出用于将细胞与半导体接合的特别前景，因为它们的尺寸小，并且因为它们的光学、电子和表面形态特征可以被设计成特定的功能。半导体纳米结构薄膜能够在照射时产生鲁棒的光电流，这是由于在膜表面上有序的电子传输，并且这使得与膜紧密接触的神经元的光活化和电刺激的耦合成为可能。将光电材料与神经元连接起来的能力可能是开发假体和人体之间主动控制界面的第一步，最终可能用于设计可以作为治疗设备甚至作为人工视网膜的植入物。 开发神经元和薄膜之间的成功界面的问题之一是实现紧密接触，同时最大限度地减少神经元和半导体之间的潜在毒性相互作用。我们建议使用表面改性来优化NP薄膜和神经元之间的界面，主要是蛋白质和肽，这将增强纳米结构薄膜和神经元之间的接触，并将增加神经元的光刺激的功效。这种表面修饰也将用于通过减少与半导体材料的直接接触来设计薄膜和神经元之间的最佳生物相容性界面。具体而言，我们的目标是：（1）设计纳米结构的薄膜阴极和阳极光电极，其具有高光电流产生，并且具有旨在增加神经元粘附的肽或蛋白质衍生物。(2)证明在肽或蛋白质修饰的纳米结构薄膜上培养的神经元的接触距离减少和细胞存活增加。(3)表明在改性纳米结构薄膜中增加的耦合导致光刺激和神经元刺激的更有效的耦合。这些目标旨在解决神经元-薄膜界面的生物相容性和功能的优化。这些发现可能与半导体和其他纳米结构材料在生物医学中的应用特别相关。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Technological advances in nanodevice fabrication have expanded the capability to develop optical and electrical interfaces between man-made and biological materials. Nanostructured thin films fabricated from semiconductor nanoparticles show particular promise for interfacing cells with semiconductors because of their small size and because their optical, electronic and surface morphological features can be engineered to specific functions. Semiconductor nanostructured thin films are capable of generating robust photocurrents upon illumination as a result of ordered electron transport over the film surface, and this makes possible the coupling of photoactivation and electrical stimulation of neurons in close contact with the film. The ability to interface photoelectric materials with neurons could be an initial step in developing an active control interface between prostheses and the human body, and may eventually be used to engineer implants that could act as therapeutic devices or even serve as an artificial retina. One of the problems in developing a successful interface between neurons and thin films is attaining close contact while minimizing potentially toxic interaction of neurons and semiconductors. We propose to optimize the interface between NP thin films and neurons using surface modifications, primarily proteins and peptides that will enhance contact between the nanostructured thin films and neurons, and will increase the efficacy of photostimulation of neurons. Such surface modifications will also be used to engineer the optimum biocompatible interface between the thin film and neurons by decreasing direct contact with semiconductor material. Specifically our aims are to: (1) Engineer nanostructured thin-film cathodic and anodic photoelectrodes that have high photocurrent generation and have peptide or protein derivatives designed to increase adherence of neurons. (2) Demonstrate decreased contact distance and increased cell survival of neurons cultured on peptide- or protein-modified nanostructured thin films. (3) Show that increased coupling in the modified nanostructured thin films results in more efficient coupling of photostimulation and neuronal stimulation. These aims are designed to address the optimization of biocompatibility and functionality of the neuron-thin film interface. These findings might be of particular relevance in the application of semiconductors and other nanostructured materials to biomedicine.