Untethering Electrophysiology in Vivo: An Optical Nanoscale Semiconductor Array f

释放体内电生理学的束缚：光学纳米级半导体阵列

• 批准号: 8285016
• 负责人: Aurel A Lazar
• 金额: $ 21.94万
• 依托单位: COLUMBIA UNIV NEW YORK MORNINGSIDE
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-02-15 至 2014-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/8285016
• 关键词: Afferent Neurons; Anosmia; Brain; Coupled; Dendrites; Development; Devices; Drosophila genus; Drosophila melanogaster; Electrodes; Electrophysiology (science); Engineering; Environment; Fruit; Glass; Goals; Individual; Insecta; Invertebrates; Lasers; Length; Light; Location; Mammals; Measurement; Measures; Mechanics; Membrane; Metals; Monitor; Nature; Neurons; Noise; Odors; Optics; Output; Population; Population Sizes; Positioning Attribute; Process; Production; Pump; Research; Semiconductors; Signal Transduction; Solutions; Source; System; Testing; Time; Transducers; Transistors; Tungsten; Vertebrates; Weight; Work; base; computerized data processing; cost; data acquisition; design; electric field; flexibility; in vivo; information processing; insight; nanofabrication; nanoprobe; nanoscale; novel; operation; photonics; programs; quantum; relating to nervous system; research study; response; sensor; sensorimotor system

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The massively parallel nature of information processing in neural systems calls for an accurate sensing and recording of the electrical activity of many neurons simultaneously and in-vivo. Until now, this has been possible with both tethered and, to a limited extent, untethered solutions in mammals, but not in insects. The fundamental limitations were size and weight of neural probes. Our proposal calls for the development of nanoscale neural probes based on photonic crystal (PC) nanocavity lasers that can be used for untethered neural sensing and recording in-vivo. The probes will be optically powered and capable of transmitting measured signals at pre-specied wavelengths. An array of such probes operating at hundreds to thousands of dierent wavelengths will allow one to record and analyze massive amounts of neural activity in parallel and in real-time. The probes will include an electric field sensor that modulates either the output power or the center wavelength of an optically pumped PC nanocavity laser. Both the sensor and the nanocavity laser will be integrated into a III-V group compound semiconductor membrane that will be fabricated in a modern nanofabrication process. This process will enable a low-cost production of tens of thousands of novel devices in parallel. As our testbed, we will use the early olfactory system of the fruit fly Drosophila Melanogaster. When inserted at the base of a sensillum on the fly's antenna, the probe will pick up the local eld potential generated by 2-4 olfactory sensory neurons projecting their dendrites into that sensillum. This local field potential will then be encoded into a lightwave emitted by the nanocavity laser on the probe. Finally, an optical data acquisition system will be used to capture the lightwave and decode the local field potential. Combined with an already-developed system for precise odorant delivery and measurement as well as theoretical advances in neural system identication, an array of such untethered probes will give us an exceptionally detailed insight into how odorants are represented by olfactory sensory neurons both in time and space and will aid in developing a deeper understanding of odor signal processing in higher brain centers. Furthermore, we plan to monitor the neural activity of olfactory sensory neurons in freely moving ies in a natural environment. An array consisting of 20 to 30 nanoprobes will be inserted into the antennae and monitored in free ight. Given the extraordinarily small size and weight, flexible functionality and low cost of nanofabricated semiconductor probes, we also envision them being used for untethered neural sensing and recording in a wide variety of sensory and motor systems of both vertebrates and invertebrates. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: We propose to build nanoscale photonic devices that would enable an untethered recording of neural activity in the early olfactory system of fruit flies. These devices will make it possible to record a y's neural activity in response to odorants in free ight and will aid in developing a deeper understanding of odor signal processing both in the periphery and in higher brain centers. This in turn will help us understand the neural basis of conditions such as anosmia, the inability to perceive odors.

描述（由申请人提供）：神经系统中信息处理的大规模并行性质要求同时和在体内准确感测和记录许多神经元的电活动。 到目前为止，在哺乳动物中，这已经可以用系留的和在有限程度上不系留的解决方案来实现，但在昆虫中却不行。 最根本的限制是神经探针的尺寸和重量。 我们的提案呼吁开发基于光子晶体（PC）纳米腔激光器的纳米级神经探针，可用于体内无束缚的神经传感和记录。 探头将采用光学供电，能够以预先设定的波长传输测量信号。 一组这样的探测器在数百到数千个不同的波长下工作，将允许人们并行和实时地记录和分析大量的神经活动。 探针将包括一个电场传感器，该传感器调制光泵PC纳米腔激光器的输出功率或中心波长。 传感器和纳米腔激光器都将集成到一个III-V族化合物半导体膜中，该膜将在现代纳米纤维工艺中制造。 这一过程将能够以低成本并行生产数万种新型器件。 作为我们的实验平台，我们将使用果蝇的早期嗅觉系统。 当探针插入苍蝇触角上的感器底部时，它将检测到2-4个嗅觉神经元投射树突进入感器产生的局部电场电位。 然后，该局部场电位将被编码成由探针上的纳米腔激光器发射的光波。 最后，将使用光学数据采集系统来捕获光波并解码局部场电位。 结合一个已经开发的系统，精确的气味传递和测量，以及在神经系统识别的理论进展，一个阵列的这种不受束缚的探针将给我们一个非常详细的洞察气味是如何代表嗅觉感觉神经元在时间和空间，并将有助于发展更深入的了解气味信号处理在更高的大脑中心。 此外，我们计划监测在自然环境中的自由移动的IE中的嗅觉感觉神经元的神经活动。 一个由20到30个纳米探针组成的阵列将被插入天线并在自由光下监测。 鉴于纳米制造半导体探针的尺寸和重量非常小，功能灵活，成本低，我们还设想它们被用于在脊椎动物和无脊椎动物的各种感觉和运动系统中进行无束缚的神经传感和记录。 公共卫生关系：我们建议建立纳米级的光子器件，这将使一个不受约束的记录在早期的嗅觉系统的果蝇的神经活动。 这些设备将使记录一个人对气味的神经活动成为可能。 这将有助于更深入地了解气味信号在外周和更高的大脑中心的处理。 这反过来将有助于我们理解嗅觉缺失等疾病的神经基础，无法感知气味。