A hybrid bioorganic interface for neuronal photoactivation

Diego Ghezzi, Maria Rosa Antognazza, Marco Dal Maschio, Erica Lanzarini, Fabio Benfenati () and Guglielmo Lanzani ()
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Diego Ghezzi: Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, Genova 16163, Italy.
Maria Rosa Antognazza: Center for Nano Science and Technology @Polimi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Giovanni Pascoli, 70/3, Milano 20133, Italy.
Marco Dal Maschio: Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, Genova 16163, Italy.
Erica Lanzarini: Center for Nano Science and Technology @Polimi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Giovanni Pascoli, 70/3, Milano 20133, Italy.
Fabio Benfenati: Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, Genova 16163, Italy.
Guglielmo Lanzani: Center for Nano Science and Technology @Polimi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, via Giovanni Pascoli, 70/3, Milano 20133, Italy.

Nature Communications, 2011, vol. 2, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract A key issue in the realization of retinal prosthetic devices is reliable transduction of information carried by light into specific patterns of electrical activity in visual information processing networks. Soft organic materials can be used to couple artificial sensors with neuronal tissues. Here, we interface a network of primary neurons with an organic blend. We show that primary neurons can be successfully grown onto the polymer layer without affecting the optoelectronic properties of the active material or the biological functionality of neuronal network. Moreover, action potentials can be triggered in a temporally reliable and spatially selective manner with short pulses of visible light. Our results may lead to new neuronal communication and photo manipulation techniques, thus paving way to the development of artificial retinas and other neuroprosthetic interfaces based on organic photodetectors.

Date: 2011
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1164

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