Nanoparticle thin films for photoactivation of neurons

描述(申请人提供)：纳米设备制造方面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接口的能力。由半导体纳米颗粒制成的纳米结构薄膜在细胞与半导体的接口方面显示出特别的前景，因为它们的尺寸很小，而且它们的光学、电子和表面形态特征可以根据特定的功能进行工程设计。半导体纳米结构薄膜能够在光照下产生强光电流，这是薄膜表面有序电子传输的结果，这使得与薄膜密切接触的神经元的光激活和电刺激的耦合成为可能。光电材料与神经元的接口能力可能是开发假肢和人体之间的主动控制接口的第一步，最终可能被用于设计植入物，这些植入物可以用作治疗设备，甚至可以用作人造视网膜。 在神经元和薄膜之间开发成功的界面的问题之一是在实现密切接触的同时将神经元和半导体之间的潜在有毒相互作用降至最低。我们建议通过表面修饰来优化NP薄膜与神经元之间的界面，主要是蛋白质和多肽，这将增强纳米结构薄膜与神经元之间的接触，并将提高神经元的光刺激效率。这种表面修饰还将用于通过减少与半导体材料的直接接触来设计薄膜与神经元之间的最佳生物相容性界面。具体地说，我们的目标是：(1)设计纳米薄膜阴极和阳极光电极，这种光电极具有高光电流产生能力，并具有旨在增加神经元粘附性的多肽或蛋白质衍生物。(2)证明了在多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率增加。(3)结果表明，修饰后的纳米结构薄膜的偶联程度越高，光刺激和神经元刺激的耦合就越有效。这些目标旨在解决神经元-薄膜界面的生物兼容性和功能的优化。这些发现可能对半导体和其他纳米结构材料在生物医学中的应用具有特别的意义。

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.