Near-infrared deep brain stimulation via upconversion nanoparticle-mediated optogenetics

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biotechnology
• Materials Science

Background:

• Optogenetics offers powerful neural circuit investigation but is limited by visible light's poor tissue penetration.
• Deep brain stimulation requires invasive methods, hindering therapeutic applications for neurological disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel optogenetic approach using upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) for deep brain stimulation with near-infrared (NIR) light.
• To demonstrate the efficacy of UCNP-mediated optogenetics for manipulating neural activity in specific brain regions.

Main Methods:

• Molecularly tailored UCNPs were synthesized to absorb NIR light and emit visible light.
• Transcranial NIR light was used to activate UCNPs, stimulating genetically tagged deep brain neurons.
• Specific neural circuits were targeted, including the ventral tegmental area, medial septum, and hippocampus.

Main Results:

• UCNP-mediated optogenetics successfully evoked dopamine release in the ventral tegmental area.
• Brain oscillations were induced by activating inhibitory neurons in the medial septum.
• Seizures were silenced via inhibition of hippocampal excitatory cells.
• Memory recall was triggered through targeted neural activation.

Conclusions:

• Upconversion nanoparticles provide a viable method for transcranial optogenetic manipulation of deep brain circuits.
• This UCNP technology facilitates less-invasive optical neuronal control, paving the way for potential remote therapies for neurological conditions.