Remote nongenetic optical modulation of neuronal activity using fuzzy graphene
Sahil K. Rastogi, Raghav Garg, Matteo Giuseppe Scopelliti, Bernardo I. Pinto, J Hartung, Seokhyoung Kim, Corban G. E. Murphey, N.F. Johnson, Daniel San Roman, Francisco Bezanilla, James F. Cahoon, Michael S. Gold, Maysamreza Chamanzar, Tzahi Cohen‐Karni
Abstract
The ability to modulate cellular electrophysiology is fundamental to the investigation of development, function, and disease. Currently, there is a need for remote, nongenetic, light-induced control of cellular activity in two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) platforms. Here, we report a breakthrough hybrid nanomaterial for remote, nongenetic, photothermal stimulation of 2D and 3D neural cellular systems. We combine one-dimensional (1D) nanowires (NWs) and 2D graphene flakes grown out-of-plane for highly controlled photothermal stimulation at subcellular precision without the need for genetic modification, with laser energies lower than a hundred nanojoules, one to two orders of magnitude lower than Au-, C-, and Si-based nanomaterials. Photothermal stimulation using NW-templated 3D fuzzy graphene (NT-3DFG) is flexible due to its broadband absorption and does not generate cellular stress. Therefore, it serves as a powerful toolset for studies of cell signaling within and between tissues and can enable therapeutic interventions.