Electrical stimulation using implantable electrodes is widely used to treat various neuronal disorders such as Parkinson's disease and epilepsy and is a widely used research tool in neuroscience studies. However, to date, devices that help better understand the mechanisms of electrical stimulation in neural tissues have been limited to opaque neural electrodes. Imaging spatiotemporal neural responses to electrical stimulation with minimal artifact could allow for various studies that are impossible with existing opaque electrodes. Here, we demonstrate electrical brain stimulation and simultaneous optical monitoring of the underlying neural tissues using carbon-based, fully transparent graphene electrodes implanted in GCaMP6f mice. Fluorescence imaging of neural activity for varying electrical stimulation parameters was conducted with minimal image artifact through transparent graphene electrodes. In addition, full-field imaging of electrical stimulation verified more efficient neural activation with cathode leading stimulation compared to anode leading stimulation. We have characterized the charge density limitation of capacitive four-layer graphene electrodes as 116.07-174.10 μC/cm based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, failure bench testing, and in vivo testing. This study demonstrates the transparent ability of graphene neural electrodes and provides a method to further increase understanding and potentially improve therapeutic electrical stimulation in the central and peripheral nervous systems.

Many solid tumors contain an overabundance of phospholipid ethers relative to normal cells. Capitalizing on this difference, we created cancer-targeted alkylphosphocholine (APC) analogs through structure-activity analyses. Depending on the iodine isotope used, radioiodinated APC analog CLR1404 was used as either a positron emission tomography (PET) imaging (124I) or molecular radiotherapeutic (131I) agent. CLR1404 analogs displayed prolonged tumor-selective retention in 55 in vivo rodent and human cancer and cancer stem cell models. 131I-CLR1404 also displayed efficacy (tumor growth suppression and survival extension) in a wide range of human tumor xenograft models. Human PET/CT (computed tomography) and SPECT (single-photon emission computed tomography)/CT imaging in advanced-cancer patients with 124I-CLR1404 or 131I-CLR1404, respectively, demonstrated selective uptake and prolonged retention in both primary and metastatic malignant tumors. Combined application of these chemically identical APC-based radioisosteres will enable personalized dual modality cancer therapy of using molecular 124I-CLR1404 tumor imaging for planning 131I-CLR1404 therapy.

Transparent graphene-based neural electrode arrays provide unique opportunities for simultaneous investigation of electrophysiology, various neural imaging modalities, and optogenetics. Graphene electrodes have previously demonstrated greater broad-wavelength transmittance (∼90%) than other transparent materials such as indium tin oxide (∼80%) and ultrathin metals (∼60%). This protocol describes how to fabricate and implant a graphene-based microelectrocorticography (μECoG) electrode array and subsequently use this alongside electrophysiology, fluorescence microscopy, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and optogenetics. Further applications, such as transparent penetrating electrode arrays, multi-electrode electroretinography, and electromyography, are also viable with this technology. The procedures described herein, from the material characterization methods to the optogenetic experiments, can be completed within 3-4 weeks by an experienced graduate student. These protocols should help to expand the boundaries of neurophysiological experimentation, enabling analytical methods that were previously unachievable using opaque metal-based electrode arrays.

Background 5-ALA induced tumor fluorescence aids brain tumor resections but is not approved for routine use in the United States. We developed and describe testing of two novel fluorescent, cancer-selective alkylphosphocholine analogs, CLR1501 (green) and CLR1502 (near-infrared), in a proof-of-principle study for fluorescence-guided glioma surgery. Objective To demonstrate CLR1501 and CLR1502 are cancer cell-selective fluorescence agents in glioblastoma models and compare tumor (T) to normal brain (N) fluorescence ratios with 5-ALA. Methods CLR1501, CLR1502, 5-ALA were administered to mice with MRI-verified orthotopic U251 GBM and GSC-derived xenografts. Harvested brains were imaged using confocal microscopy (CLR1501), IVIS Spectrum imaging system (CLR1501, CLR1502, and 5-ALA), or Fluobeam near-infrared fluorescence imaging system (CLR1502). Imaging and quantitative analysis of T:N fluorescence ratios were performed. Results Excitation/emission peaks are 500/517nm for CLR1501, and 760/778nm for CLR1502. The observed T:N ratio of CLR1502 (9.28±1.08) was significantly higher (p<0.01) than CLR1501 (3.51±0.44 on confocal imaging; 7.23±1.63 on IVIS imaging) and 5-ALA (4.81±0.92). Near-infrared Fluobeam CLR1502 imaging in a mouse xenograft model demonstrated high contrast tumor visualization compatible with surgical applications. Conclusion CLR1501 (green) and CLR1502 (near infrared) are novel tumor-selective fluorescent agents for discriminating tumor from normal brain. CLR1501 exhibits a tumor to brain fluorescence ratio similar to 5-ALA, whereas CLR1502 has a superior tumor to brain fluorescence ratio. This study demonstrates the potential use of CLR1501 and CLR1502 in fluorescence-guided tumor surgery.