Nanoscale Engineering of a Cellular Interface with Semiconductor Nanoparticle Films for Photoelectric Stimulation of Neurons

Abstract

The remarkable optical and electrical properties of nanostructured materials are considered now as a source for a variety of biomaterials, biosensing, and cell interface applications. In this study, we report the first example of hybrid bionanodevice where absorption of light by thin films of quantum confined semiconductor nanoparticles of HgTe produced by the layer-by-layer assembly stimulate adherent neural cells via a sequence of photochemical and charge-transfer reactions. We also demonstrate an example of nanoscale engineering of the material driven by biological functionalities.

Novel interfaces for light directed neuronal stimulation: advances and challenges

“…Thus, the measured photocurrent originates from electrons injected from the electrode surface in response to hole accumulation. 149 The authors further suggested resistive coupling as a mechanism of neuronal light stimulation.…”

“…147,149 Two routes were demonstrated: antibody-antigen recognition and peptide recognition. 147 The antibody-antigen approach included a primary antibody binding to a specific cell surface receptor.…”

“…Since QDs are attached to a surface, there is less chance for cellular penetration. Recently, drop casting, 150 as well as electrostatic layer-by-layer (LBL) 149,155 fabricated QD films were successfully used to achieve photostimulation of cultured neurons.…”

“…A mercury telluride (HgTe) QD layer on ITO was used for light activation of cultured neurons by Pappas et al 149 The QD film was prepared using an electrostatic LBL method by layering negatively charged QDs, and positively charged poly(dimethyl-diallyl-ammonium-chloride) (PDDA) on an ITO substrate, as illustrated in Figure 3A. To improve the biocompatibility of the QD coated surface, it was coated with polylysine and poly(acrylic acid).…”

“…The LBL approach applied in Pappas et al 149 was also adopted by Invitrogen (Carlsbad, CA, USA). 155 A nanostructured biocompatible interface, composed of stacks of semiconductor QDs, coated with an adhesion protein layer was prepared (similar to the scheme illustrated in Figure 2A with a protein adhesion layer instead of a polymer-based electrostatic conjugation).…”