Applications of Nanoparticles for Optical Modulation of Neuronal Behavior

Depending on the localization of the nanoparticles relative to the cell, the vapor bubbles can create transient pores in the cell membrane or organelles to modulate cellular behavior in a process known as optoporation. The photomechanical effects of nanoparticles are multifaceted and may vary depending on the type of nanoparticle, the type of target cell, the location of the nanoparticle relative to the target cell, and the type of optical stimulation. In the context of optically active materials, a range of effects have been exploited for neuronal modulation, based on photothermal, photomechanical, photoelectric, and photochemical energy transduction pathways. Nanoparticles with photoelectric properties have also been evaluated for spatially selective neuronal stimulation. Nanoparticles with these properties can be semiconducting, metallic, or organic in nature. Semiconductors and metallic nanoparticles used in photoelectric neurostimulation are essentially quantum-confined nanoparticles and quantum dots. Nanoparticles that present photochemical effects typically contain photo-responsive pendant or functional groups that induce a chemical change within the structure.