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Updated: Sep 17, 2026

Gold Nanorod-assisted Optical Stimulation of Neuronal Cells
Published on: April 27, 2015
Nonsurgical Platelet Membrane-Decorated Gold Yarnball Brain Antenna for In Situ Nitric Oxide Generation and Neuronal
Wan-Chi Pan1, Ming-You Shie2,3,4, Jia-Yue Xu1
1Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu300044, Taiwan.
Abstract:
Bioelectronic implants for brain stimulation are widely used to treat neurological disorders and promote neuronal repair; however, their clinical application is limited by invasive surgical implantation. To address this challenge, here, platelet membrane-decorated gold yarnballs double as a brain antenna and a miniaturized chemo-electrical reactor for neuron electric stimulus and gas-controlled release in traumatic brain injury (TBI). The platform consists of a nitric oxide (NO) donor-functionalized platelet membrane (PMNO) conjugated onto a gold yarnball nanoparticle (GNP). Upon exposure to an external high-frequency magnetic field (HFMF), the conductive GNP generates eddy currents that electrically stimulate neural regeneration while simultaneously triggering controlled NO release from PMNO. This dual-mode stimulation enhances neurogenesis, suppresses astrocyte activation, and promotes angiogenesis at the injury site, leading to significantly improved synaptic differentiation and neurite outgrowth of neural stem cells (NSCs). In vivo studies show that combined wireless electrical stimulation and NO signaling suppress inflammation, enhance vascularization, and promote neuronal regeneration in TBI. Behavioral analyses further reveal improved motor coordination and functional recovery in treated mice. The system offers a noninvasive alternative to implanted bioelectronic devices.

