Gold Nanoparticles for Modulating Neuronal Behavior

Abstract

Understanding the detailed functioning and pathophysiology of the brain and the nervous system continues to challenge the scientific community, particularly in terms of scaling up techniques for monitoring and interfacing with complex 3D networks. Nanotechnology has the potential to support this scaling up, where the eventual goal would be to address individual nerve cells within functional units of both the central and peripheral nervous system. Gold nanoparticles provide a variety of physical and chemical properties that have attracted attention as a light-activated nanoscale neuronal interface. This review provides a critical overview of the photothermal and photomechanical properties of chemically functionalized gold nanoparticles that have been exploited to trigger a range of biological responses in neuronal tissues, including modulation of electrical activity and nerve regeneration. The prospects and challenges for further development are also discussed.

Fabrication of a Biocompatible Liquid Crystal Graphene Oxide–Gold Nanorods Electro‐ and Photoactive Interface for Cell Stimulation

“…NG108‐15 cells were able to differentiate on the LCGO–AuNR films and presented fine neurites ( Figure a). The neurites stained for βIII‐tubulin (green), which is a protein involved in neurogenesis and expressed in NG108‐15 cells . The percentage of cells expressing neurites on LCGO–AuNR films steadily increased from 4.1% on Day 0 to 71% on Day 7 of differentiation (Figure b) ( n = 291–484; one‐way ANOVA, p ≤ 0.05; Tukey HSD, p ≤ 0.05).…”

“…In addition, the photothermal effect generated is highly localized at the nanoparticle, which creates a steep thermal gradient within a radius of tens of nanometers around the gold nanoparticle. This results in high spatial resolution of the stimulation . Also, high temporal resolution can be achieved as the duration of the photothermal effect is governed by the length of the laser pulse (typically in the range 0.1–10 ms) …”

Biological Considerations of Optical Interfaces for Neuromodulation

“…A schematic diagram of nanoparticle‐enhanced optical stimulation is shown in Figure C. Commonly used nanomaterials for enhanced optical stimulation include gold nanorods, quantum dots, and upconverting nanoparticles . Gold nanorods offer the potential to enhance techniques such as INS by absorbing irradiated energy and increasing the localization of optical stimuli .…”

“…Commonly used nanomaterials for enhanced optical stimulation include gold nanorods, quantum dots, and upconverting nanoparticles . Gold nanorods offer the potential to enhance techniques such as INS by absorbing irradiated energy and increasing the localization of optical stimuli . Gold nanorods used for nanoparticle‐enhanced INS can be conjugated to ligands that bind to ion channels and therefore can be designed for cell‐specific targeting .…”

Nanotechnology: A non-invasive diagnosis and therapeutic tool for brain disorders

“…The application of gold nanoparticle in the treatment of neurological disorders includes neuro suppression (Yoo et al, 2014), nerve depolarization (Eom et al, 2014;Yong et al, 2014), neuromodulation by interfering with intracellular calcium signaling (Paviolo et al, 2014;Nakatsuji et al, 2015), neurite outgrowth enhancement (Paviolo et al, 2013;Papastefanaki et al, 2015). Along with this, gold nanoparticles are also used for gene therapy (Paviolo and Stoddart, 2017) Carbon nanotubes Carbon nanotubes were firstly prepared by Sumio Iijima in 1991, from the arc discharge of graphite electrode in an experiment (Iijima, 1991). The carbon nanotubes are entirely made of carbon atoms, arranged as a benzene ring; these benzene ring-like structures are made as graphene sheet which further turns into a cylindrical shape.…”